A new prenatal cardiac diagnostic device for congenital heart disease

A unique case of congenital heart disease and complete heart block diagnosed by fetal electrocardiogram (ECG) and phonocardiogram recorded initially at 32 weeks gestation is presented. The slow, regular fetal heart rate of approximately 50 beats/min with bizarre QRS and a diamond-shaped murmur beginning with the fetal QRS complex made a diagnosis of complete heart block (CHB) and associated congenital heart disease highly probable. Direct fetal electrocardiograms (FECG) recorded during labor and vaginal delivery at term confirmed the diagnosis of completel atrioventricular block. Cardiac catheterization at 1 day of age showed multiple congenital heart anomalies. The infant developed signs of congestive heart failure and transvenous pacemaker was successfully placed; however, he died at 9 days of age of sepsis and renal failure.