[Unusual fetal heart pattern during pregnancy (author's transl)]

A rare case of severe fetal heart bradycardia at 29 weeks gestation by dates followed by prolonged extreme tachycardia is reported and the literature on antepartum fetal bradycardia and fetal tachycardia is reviewed. Fetal bradycardia at the beginning of the third trimester with good fetal movements is not necessarily due to fetal distress. A prolonged fetal tachycardia does not have to be due to hypoxia but is probably due to unknown changes in the exitability of the myocardium. A prolonged fetal tachycardia antepartum and during delivery is in itself no indication for a Caesarean Section.