Open AccessFetal cardiology in the Czech Republic: current management of prenatally diagnosed congenital heart diseases and arrhythmias
Author(s) -
Viktor Tomek,
Josef Marek,
Hana Jičínská,
J Škovránek
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
physiological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.647
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1802-9973
pISSN - 0862-8408
DOI - 10.33549/physiolres.931912
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiology , heart disease , supraventricular tachycardia , atrioventricular block , supraventricular arrhythmia , fetal echocardiography , fetus , heart failure , heart block , prenatal diagnosis , in utero , tachycardia , electrocardiography , pregnancy , atrial fibrillation , biology , genetics
Reliable diagnosis of congenital heart defects and arrhythmias inutero has been possible since the introduction of fetalechocardiography. The nation-wide prenatal ultrasound screeningprogram in the Czech Republic enabled detection of cardiacabnormities in 1/3 of patients born with any congenital heartdisease and up to 83 % of those with critical forms. Prenatalfrequency of individual heart anomalies significantly differed fromthe postnatal frequency. Fetal isolated complete atrioventricularblock and supraventricular tachycardia may lead to heart failureand are important causes of fetal mortality. The regression ofheart failure was achieved by a conversion to the sinus rhythm inthe supraventricular tachycardia and by increase of ventricular ratein the complete atrioventricular block.