Long-term neurodevelopmental outcome after fetal arrhythmia

Enrico Lopriore, Muhammed I. Aziz, Helene T. Nagel, Nico A. Blom, Lieke Rozendaal, Humphrey H. H. Kanhai, Frank P. H. A. Vandenbussche

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15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term neurodevelopmental outcome in fetuses with severe tachy- or bradyarrhythmia. STUDY DESIGN: This was a follow-up study to assess the neurologic, mental, and psychomotor development in cases with fetal cardiac arrhythmia. RESULTS: A total of 44 fetuses were diagnosed with fetal tachy- or bradyarrhythmia: 28 fetuses had supraventricular tachycardia (SVT); 7 fetuses had atrial flutter (AF), and 9 fetuses had atrioventricular block (AVB). The mortality rate was low (6%; 2/35 fetuses) in the SVT and AF groups and high in the AVB group (78%; 7/9 fetuses). Six patients were lost to follow-up evaluation (14%). Neurodevelopmental outcome was normal in all survivors in the SVT and AF groups, except for 1 patient who experienced plexus brachialis injury because of shoulder dystocia. Two of the 3 survivors in the AVB group had severe developmental delay. CONCLUSION: The mortality rate and neurodevelopmental impairment in infants with SVT and AF are low, but the mortality rate in infants with AVB is elevated
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)46.e1-46.e5
JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume201
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009

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