[Hydrops fetalis in tachycardia: diagnostic and therapeutic procedures]

We report on a 33-year-old para II who was admitted to our hospital in her 29th gestational week with extensive fetal hydrops. Examinations showed a fetal supraventricular tachycardia with biventrical cardiac insufficiency. Digoxin was given both to the mother and to the fetus. At first, this treatment seemed to have no effect. Over a period of several weeks, however, oral therapy with digoxin and verapamil resulted in a stabilized fetal heart rate (175-180 beats/min). Signs of fetal cardiac insufficiency disappeared almost completely. In the 39th week the child was born spontaneously. Clinical examination revealed only a slight cardiac insufficiency. New possibilities of intrauterine therapy are discussed in the light of this case and other reports in the literature.