Saving a fetus with a heart rhythm disorder while still in the womb.

In March 2021, Ms. BTM visited the hospital for examination.Obstetrics and PediatricsA woman from Nghe An is pregnant with her fifth child. Prior to this, she had given birth four times naturally at full term. For this pregnancy, she sought treatment at the Center for Prenatal and Neonatal Screening and Diagnosis, Hospital.Obstetrics and PediatricsNghe An province first received the award on March 9, 2021.

On June 3, 2021, the patient went into labor and gave birth naturally to a healthy baby girl weighing 2600 grams. Photo: Hoang Yen

Immediately, the patient was advised to be admitted to the Obstetrics and Gynecology department for close monitoring and treatment. The doctors in the Obstetrics and Gynecology department organized an interdisciplinary consultation involving Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Center for Prenatal and Neonatal Screening and Diagnosis, and the Cardiology department to agree on a treatment plan for the patient.

A treatment plan for infant tachycardia, even while still in the mother's womb, has been agreed upon. Medications are prescribed by cardiologists, under close monitoring by obstetricians and nurses, and patients undergo consultations and ultrasound monitoring of their response to treatment at the Center for Prenatal and Neonatal Screening and Diagnosis.

During treatment, the fetal heart rate sometimes fluctuated between 90 and 120 beats per minute; however, with close monitoring using blood drug concentration measurements, electrocardiograms, and maternal echocardiograms, and appropriate dose adjustments, the fetal condition gradually stabilized.

After two weeks of treatment, the fetal heart rate returned to a baseline of 140-160 beats per minute, and the pericardial effusion showed signs of improvement. After four weeks of close monitoring, the fetal heart rate stabilized, the pericardial effusion resolved, and the fetus grew well, reaching an average weight for its gestational age.

In April 2021, the patient was discharged from the hospital and continued outpatient treatment, examinations, and prenatal and neonatal screening at the Center for Prenatal and Neonatal Diagnosis and Management from 31 weeks. On May 31, 2021, the patient was admitted to the hospital to give birth when the pregnancy reached 39 weeks.

On June 3, 2021, the patient went into labor and gave birth naturally to a healthy baby girl weighing 2600 grams. After birth, the baby's health was checked by neonatologists, and the postnatal echocardiogram showed no abnormalities. The baby and mother were soon discharged from the hospital to return home, much to the joy and happiness of the family and the medical staff.

Currently, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital is effectively implementing interdisciplinary consultations between the Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Neonatal departments to detect and treat fetal heart rhythm disorders early in the womb, thereby avoiding potential complications during pregnancy (such as multiple membrane effusion, fetal hydrops, and stillbirth).

The fetal heartbeat is one of the important indicators that tells a mother about her baby's health. Through the heartbeat, a mother can know if her baby is healthy and developing normally. Listening to her baby's heartbeat helps her feel the presence of her little one. The gentle beat of the heart in the womb is also a wonderful sound, evoking sacred maternal feelings.

The fetal heartbeat is constantly changing and fluctuating depending on the stage and development of the baby in the womb. The average fetal heart rate ranges from 120-160 beats per minute. If the baby's heart rate exceeds 180 beats per minute (too fast), pregnant mothers should go to a hospital with a specialized obstetrics and pediatrics department for immediate examination and treatment. This could be a warning sign about the health of the mother or the fetus.