Fetal and Neonatal Supraventricular Tachycardia

Supraventricular tachycardia is one of the most common fetal cardiac complications diagnosed during pregnancy in fetuses with and without a structural heart disease, the first group being at the highest risk of developing tachyarrhythmia. Therefore, any pregnant woman who presents with fetal supraventricular tachycardia should have a complete history and fetal cardiac examination, a continuous cardiotocography, as well as an echocardiogram in order to evaluate the possibility of any structural heart disease. Mainly, the approach to the treatment of supraventricular tachycardia is similar in both pregnant and non-pregnant women. However, one cannot exclude the theoretical or known adverse effects of antiarrhythmic therapy on the fetus; therefore, most antiarrhythmic drugs are often reserved for the treatment of cases associated with clinically significant symptoms or hemodynamic compromise.