Detection of fetal atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation by Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI)

Introduction: Fetal atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation are often accompanied by ventricular tachycardia with a relevant morbidity and mortality. Variable degrees of atrioventricular (AV) conduction block, resulting in slower ventricular rates compared to atrial rates, are described. Atrioventricular re-entry is the most common type of supraventricular tachycardia in the fetus. Some fetuses with atrial flutter showed postnatal an accessory AV pathway. Methods: Since 2005 we use TDI as a matter of routine in the diagnosis of fetal arrhythmias. After an echocardiographic examination, high-frame rate TDI raw-dat…