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Fetal bradycardia following cordocentesis
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Vienna, Austria.
Prenatal Diagnosis
|November 14, 1997
Summary
Fetal bradycardia during cordocentesis, a rare event, indicates a poor prognosis. This complication significantly increases fetal/neonatal loss rates, highlighting its clinical importance in prenatal diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Perinatology
- Fetal Medicine
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Fetal bradycardia is a known complication of cordocentesis.
- Its prognostic significance remains debated in clinical literature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of fetal bradycardia post-cordocentesis.
- To investigate the short- and long-term outcomes associated with this complication.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 339 cordocentesis procedures in 290 fetuses.
- Definition of clinically significant bradycardia: heart rate <100 bpm for ≥60 seconds.
- Comparison of fetal/neonatal loss rates between bradycardia and non-bradycardia groups.
Main Results:
- Bradycardia occurred in 3.8% of procedures (13/339).
- Fetal/neonatal loss rate was significantly higher in bradycardia cases (61.5% vs. 3.1%, P < 0.001).
- Early gestational age and hydrops fetalis were associated with bradycardia; other risk factors were not.
Conclusions:
- Prolonged fetal bradycardia after cordocentesis is linked to a significantly higher risk of fetal/neonatal loss.
- This complication identifies fetuses with a particularly unfavorable prognosis, aiding in risk stratification.