Fetal Cardiac Arrhythmia

Complications

Obie Editorial Team

It is not usual for the fetus to have an irregular heart beat (cardiac arrhthmia) during pregnancy. More often than not it is a benign condition, though it requires further tests when it is observed. There are several different arrhythmias, and most pose no problem to the fetus:

Simple Arrhythmias:

  • Premature atrial contraction (PAC)
  • Premature ventricular contraction (PVC)
  • Sinus tachycardia (ST)
  • Sinus bradycardia (SB)
  • Premature atrial contraction blocked

Potentially Fatal: 

  • Atrioventricular block (A-V) 
  • Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)
  • Atrial flutter (AF)
  • Nodal tachycardia
  • Complex arrhythmias