OBJECTIVE To identify the referral factors for fetal echocardiography which are associated with congenital cardiac defects in the fetus. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Radiology Department, CMH, Rawalpindi, from January 2007 to November 2010. METHODOLOGY All patients referred for fetal echocardiography with one or more risk factors for the deve...

In a series of over 6000 patients referred for fetal echocardiography during an eight year period, 37 fetuses were found to have complete heart block. There were 16 cases of isolated heart block and 21 cases associated with structural heart disease. All mothers of fetuses with isolated complete heart block had evidence of circulating syndrome Sjögren A antibody (Ro). Only one mother had clinica...

microRNAs (miRNAs) are important both in early cardiogenesis and in the process of heart maturation. The aim of this study was to determine the stage-specific expression of miRNAs in human fetal heart in order to identify valuable targets for further study of heart defects. Affymetrix microarrays were used to obtain miRNA expression profiles from human fetal heart tissue at 5, 7, 9 and 23 weeks...

This Practice Bulletin was developed by the ACOG Committee on Practice Bulletins— Obstetrics with the assistance of Suneet P. Chauhan, MD and George A. Macones, MD. The information is designed to aid practitioners in making decisions about appropriate obstetric and gynecologic care. These guidelines should not be construed as dictating an exclusive course of treatment or procedure. Variations i...

As part of routine prenatal care, the obstetrician of a 25-year-old gravida 1, para 0 woman performed fetal heart-rate monitoring at 22 weeks gestational age. The fetal heart rate was 90 bpm, below the expected range of 120 –160 bpm. This finding prompted a subsequent fetal ultrasound and echocardiogram. The ultrasound exam showed no evidence of hydrops. Cardiac anatomy was normal, with 4 appro...

The most significant ultrasound parameters indicating viability of the equine fetus include fetal heart rate and fetal activity. Abnormal patterns in fetal heart rate reactivity represent the most sensitive indicator of fetal compromise. In advanced to late gestation, the fetal cardiac area becomes quite inaccessible to an ultrasound examination per rectum. Peripheral arterial pulses may be use...

OBJECTIVE To assess maternal rectal temperature and fetal heart rate responses to dynamic exercise. METHODS 11 healthy women with low risk pregnancies completed three separate upright cycling tests at 34 to 37 weeks gestation: 15 min at 62.5 W (mean maternal heart rate [MHR] 138 beats.min-1 (test A); 15 min at 87.5 W (MHR 156 beats.min-1) (test B); and 30 min at 62.5 W (MHR 142 beats.min-1) (...