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Rate‐based management of fetal supraventricular tachycardia.
Author(s) -
Guntheroth W G,
Cyr D R,
Shields L E,
Nghiem H V
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.7863/jum.1996.15.6.453
Subject(s) - medicine , supraventricular tachycardia , tachycardia , fetus , heart rate , fetal heart rate , anesthesia , vaginal delivery , cardiology , pregnancy , obstetrics , blood pressure , biology , genetics
We reviewed the ultrasonographic studies and the clinical course of 22 fetuses with supraventricular tachycardia to determine whether the heart rate alone could serve as a basis for conservative management. Hydrops was not encountered with heart rates under 230 beats per minute. The conditions of all 22 fetuses stabilized without invasive administration of medications. Eighteen were delivered vaginally and only four by cesarean section. No fetal or neonatal losses occurred. Regardless of the type of supraventricular tachycardia, reducing heart rate in these fetuses to levels preventing or resolving hydrops allowed term vaginal delivery, thereby reducing the substantial problems of ventilating an immature or hydropic neonate.