Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2026

Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
Published on: July 18, 2014
Favorable outcome in a pregnancy with complete fetal heart block and severe bradycardia
Vatche A Minassian1, Allahyar Jazayeri
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA.
Background:
Pregnancies complicated by congenital heart block usually have a poor prognosis when there is severe fetal bradycardia.
Case:
We present a pregnancy with fetal heart rate of 40 beats per minute. She previously delivered a child with third-degree heart block by cesarean at 28 weeks. This pregnancy was complicated by a high ribonucleoprotein antibody anti-Ro/SSA titer and fetal bradycardia. The patient was treated with steroids and beta-mimetics. The fetus continued to grow normally with reassuring biophysical profiles. After fetal lung maturity documentation at 34 weeks, she delivered by repeat cesarean a healthy 2349-g infant who required a permanent pacemaker.
Conclusion:
Reassuring antepartum testing and normal growth in pregnant women with anti-Ro/SSA antibodies and congenital heart block may allow expectant management until fetal maturity.
Related Concept Videos
Dysrhythmias IV: Characteristics of Bradyarrhythmias
Fetal Circulation
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
Disturbances in Heart Rhythm
Arrhythmias are categorized by their speed, rhythm, and origin. A slow heart...
Dysrhythmias VI: Management of Dysrhythmias
Development of the Heart
As the embryo undergoes lateral folding, these paired tubes approach each other, merging into a single primitive heart tube by...
Mitral Valve Prolapse III: Nursing Management
