Topics:
fetal heart, fetus, supraventricular tachycardia, tachycardia, atrium, atrial flutter, heart ventricle

At 20 weeks’ gestation, an obstetrician performs a routine fetal ultrasonogram that shows normal intracardiac anatomy and function but raises concerns about an abnormal fetal heart rhythm. The rest of the fetal ultrasonogram survey reveals no abnormalities, with no signs of pericardial effusion, pleural effusion, ascites, or skin edema, and a normal quantity of amniotic fluid. At 22 weeks’ gestation, the pregnant patient is referred to fetal cardiology, where a fetal echocardiogram is performed. (Video 1 and Figures 1 and 2A).

  • Question 1: What is the most common fetal tachyarrhythmia?

    • Atrial flutter

    • Complete heart block

    • Sinus tachycardia

    • Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)

    • Ventricular tachycardia (VT)

  • Question 2: Which congenital heart disease should be excluded in a fetus with SVT?

    • Atrioventricular septal defect

    • Coarctation of the aorta

    • Transposition of the great arteries

    • Ebstein anomaly

    • Ventricular septal defect

The fetal echocardiogram clip from the 4-chamber view of the patient in this scenario...

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