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Low mortality in fetal supraventricular tachycardia: Outcomes in a 30‐year single‐institution experience
Author(s) -
O'Leary Edward T.,
Alexander Mark E.,
Bezzerides Vassilios J.,
Drogosz Monika,
Economy Katherine E.,
Friedman Kevin G.,
Pickard Sarah S.,
Tworetzky Wayne,
Mah Douglas Y.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.193
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1540-8167
pISSN - 1045-3873
DOI - 10.1111/jce.14406
Subject(s) - medicine , supraventricular tachycardia , flecainide , fetal echocardiography , fetus , cardiology , atrial flutter , hydrops fetalis , odds ratio , gestational age , amiodarone , sotalol , digoxin , heart disease , retrospective cohort study , pregnancy , tachycardia , prenatal diagnosis , atrial fibrillation , heart failure , biology , genetics
Abstract Objectives To describe a single institutional experience managing fetuses with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and to identify associations between patient characteristics and fetal and postnatal outcomes. Background Sustained fetal SVT is associated with significant morbidity and mortality if untreated, yet the optimal management strategy remains unclear. Methods Retrospective cohort study including fetuses diagnosed with sustained SVT (>50% of the diagnostic echocardiogram) between 1985 and 2018. Fetuses with congenital heart disease were excluded. Results Sustained SVT was diagnosed in 65 fetuses at a median gestational age of 30 weeks (range, 14‐37). Atrioventricular re‐entrant tachycardia and atrial flutter were the most common diagnoses, seen in 41 and 16 cases, respectively. Moderate/severe ventricular dysfunction was present in 20 fetuses, and hydrops fetalis was present in 13. Of the 57 fetuses initiated on transplacental drug therapy, 47 received digoxin first‐line, yet 39 of 57 (68%) required advanced therapy with sotalol, flecainide, or amiodarone. Rate or rhythm control was achieved in 47 of 57 treated fetuses. There were no cases of intrauterine fetal demise. Later gestational age at fetal diagnosis (odds ratio [OR], 1.1, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01‐1.2, P = .02) and moderate/severe fetal ventricular dysfunction (OR, 6.1, 95% CI, 1.7‐21.6, P = .005) were associated with postnatal SVT. Two postnatal deaths occurred. Conclusions Fetuses with structurally normal hearts and sustained SVT can be effectively managed with transplacental drug therapy with minimal risk of intrauterine fetal demise. Treatment requires multiple antiarrhythmic agents in over half of cases. Later gestational age at fetal diagnosis and the presence of depressed fetal ventricular function, but not hydrops, predict postnatal arrhythmia burden.