Fetal Cardiac Arrhythmias (Content last reviewed: 15th March 2020)

Chapter 14 - Fetal Cardiac Arrhythmias (Content last reviewed: 15th March 2020)

from Section 3 - Late Prenatal – Fetal Problems

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 November 2017

Christoph Wohlmuth and

Edited by

Bernard Gonik and

David James: Affiliation:
University of Nottingham
Philip Steer: Affiliation:
Imperial College London
Carl Weiner: Affiliation:
University of Kansas
Bernard Gonik: Affiliation:
Wayne State University, Detroit
Stephen Robson: Affiliation:
University of Newcastle

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Summary

The myocardium first starts to contract about 26 days after conception as a consequence of the rhythmical electrical depolarization of pacemaker-precursor cells. Cardiac arrhythmias are commonly encountered later in development and have been reported in about 2% of all pregnancies. With increasing use of antenatal screening, arrhythmias are more likely to be encountered, usually as a random pick-up. While the majority of them are benign (mostly atrial ectopic beats), some are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. For the latter group appropriate antenatal diagnosis may improve outcome by proper pre- and postnatal therapy.

Type: Chapter
Information: High-Risk Pregnancy
Management Options
, pp. 321 - 339

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108349185 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

First published in: 2017

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