IMR Press / CEOG / Volume 52 / Issue 1 / DOI: 10.31083/CEOG27093
Open Access Review
Fetal Bradyarrhythmias: A Comprehensive Update on Current Knowledge
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Affiliation
1 Department of Obstetrics, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo (EPM-UNIFESP), 04021-001 São Paulo, Brazil
2 Discipline of Woman Health, Municipal University of São Caetano do Sul (USCS), 09550-051 São Caetano do Sul, Brazil
3 Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Cardiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), 21941-912 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
4 Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, “G. Martino” University Hospital, 98100 Messina, Italy
*Correspondence: robertagr74@gmail.com (Roberta Granese)
Clin. Exp. Obstet. Gynecol. 2025, 52(1), 27093; https://doi.org/10.31083/CEOG27093
Submitted: 23 October 2024 | Revised: 11 December 2024 | Accepted: 3 January 2025 | Published: 20 January 2025
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Abstract
Objective:

This review aims to improve the accuracy and efficacy of ultrasound diagnosis of fetal bradyarrhythmias. Fetal arrhythmias represent 10% to 20% of referrals to specialized clinics for the evaluation of fetal heart rhythm abnormalities

Mechanism:

Various methods are available for assessing fetal heart rhythm through ultrasound and fetal echocardiography, which facilitate accurate diagnosis and help determine the optimal management strategies. Despite advancements in diagnostic techniques, the absence of studies with a substantial number of cases has resulted in significant variability in treatment approaches, influenced by local expertise and available resources.

Findings in Brief:

Fetal bradycardias can be transient or persistent conditions. Differentiating between them is critical for determining appropriate management. Second-trimester physiological transient bradycardia is characterized by temporary decelerations in fetal heart rate that resolve spontaneously to normal rhythm without requiring treatment or follow-up. In contrast, isolated or immune-mediated complete atrioventricular block may progress rapidly to hydrops, requiring close monitoring, medical intervention, and, in some cases, early delivery.

Conclusion:

In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of all types of fetal bradycardias and the intrauterine management strategies used for their treatment.

Keywords
fetal bradycardia
complete congenital heart block
maternal autoantibodies
prenatal diagnosis
prevention
intrauterine treatment
terbutaline
Figures
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