Analysis of cases with fetal extrasystole coexisting with cardiac and extracardiac pathology

OBJECTIVE: The paper presents a review of cases with fetal extrasystole coexisting with different cardiac and extracardiac pathology. DESIGN: The aim of the study is to analyse the results of echocardiographic examinations of fetuses with premature atrial contractions (PAC) quantitatively significant (bigeminy, trigeminy) or coexisting with other abnormal findings in fetal heart or other extracardiac pathologies. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Selected group of 33 (24%) fetuses from 135 with fetal extrasystole was analyzed. The mean gestational time of diagnosis was 29.2 + 4.1 weeks. RESULTS: Quantitatively significant arrhythmia (bigeminy, trigeminy) was diagnosed in 14 fetuses. Blocked PAC (2:1) occurred in two cases causing fetal bradycardia. Premature atrial extrasystole coexisting with different type of arrhythmias were diagnosed in 10 cases (4 x with SVT, 4 x with sinus bradycardia, 2 x with ventricular extrasystole). Heart defects in the analyzed group with PAC were recognized in two fetuses (1 x d-TGA, 1 x heterotaxy syndrome--common a-v canal). Myocarditis was diagnosed in 3 (9%) cases. From the group of 33 fetuses 6 newborns died (1 x d-TGA, 1 x T18, 1 x myocarditis, 1 x circulatory centralization). Mortality in the analyzed group was 18.2%. CONCLUSION: In cases of fetal arrhythmias echocardiography should be widely applied in order to evaluate the kind of arrhythmia, sufficiency of circulation and coexistence of heart defects, extracardiac malformations or functional abnormalities with arrhythmia in fetal circulation.