Fetal electrocardiography, with special reference to early pregnancy

Abstract

1. 1. Fetal electrocardiography, utilizing presently available instruments and technique, can demonstrate large, clear, definite complexes, and thus may be a valuable diagnostic aid in obstetrics and allied fields. 2. 2. The f-ECG is shown to provide rapid information as to the presence of a living fetus, and its presentation. 3. 3. Recordings from four sets of twins are shown, indicating the value of fetal electrocardiography in cases of multiple pregnancy. 4. 4. Diagnosis of multiple pregnancy at 16 and 21 weeks is demonstrated. 5. 5. Recording of the fetal electrocardiogram in utero, and subsequent electrocardiograms of the newborn are shown for both vertex and breech presentations. The identity of the complexes is beyond doubt. 6. 6. It is shown that an early diagnostic period exists at 16 to 22 weeks, at which time diagnosis of cardiac anomaly and multiple pregnancy should be possible. 7. 7. A demonstration by fetal electrocardiography of a case of cardiac anomaly is presented, in which coarctation of the aorta was found at autopsy. The fetal electrocardiogram in this instance was clearly abnormal, with a wide, notched QRS and S-T displacement. 8. 8. Fetal electrocardiography provides positive results from 2 to 6 weeks earlier than auscultation of fetal heart tones.