Fetal cardiac failure resulting from congenital anomalies of the heart

Abstract

Cardiac failure during fetal life is uncommon, even among subjects with cardiovascular malformations. The occurrence of fetal cardiac failure appears to depend upon the presence of some condition which places a burden upon the right ventricle. Classically, premature closure of the foramen ovale is such a condition. In the three cases of fetal cardiac failure reported the malformations represented were (1) right ventricular endocardial fibroelastosis, (2) Ebstein's malformation of the tricuspid valve, and (3) left ventricular endocardial fibroelastosis and mitral insufficiency.