Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fetoscopic Fetal Transesophageal Electrocardiography: A Minimally Invasive Tool for Cardiac Monitoring, Diagnostics, and Intervention in Human Fetuses

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Pediatric Cardiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Therapy-refractory supraventricular tachycardias commonly result in hydrops and death in human fetuses. Fetal transesophageal electrocardiography may aid in understanding its underlying electrophysiological mechanism and allow stimulation. Percutaneous fetoscopic deployment of an electrode catheter into the fetal esophagus by way of a single trocar was performed in a human fetus and permitted the recording of a fetal transesophageal electrocardiogram at 35 + 6 weeks of gestation. Fetal transesophageal electrocardiography can be achieved in human fetuses by way of a minimally invasive percutaneous fetoscopic approach and carries the potential to improve diagnosis and management of therapy-refractory supraventricular tachycardias in human fetuses.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kohl T, Kirchhof P, Gogarten W, Asfour B, Haverkamp W, Reckers J et al (1999) Fetal transesophageal electrocardiography and stimulation in sheep―Fetoscopic techniques aimed at diagnosis and therapy of incessant fetal tachycardias. Circulation 100:772–776

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Kohl T, Große Hartlage N, Kienitz D, Westphal M, Brentrup A, Aryee S et al (2003) Percutaneous fetoscopic tracheal balloon occlusion in sheep—a minimally invasive approach aimed at reduction of maternal injury during fetal surgery for diaphragmatic hernia. Surg Endosc 17:1454–1460

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Kohl T, Hering R, Van de Vondel P, Tchatcheva K, Berg C, Bartmann P et al (2006) Analysis of the step-wise clinical introduction of experimental percutaneous fetoscopic surgical techniques for upcoming minimally-invasive fetal cardiac interventions. Surg Endosc 20:1134–1143

    Google Scholar 

  4. Srinivasan S, Strasburger J (2008) Overview of fetal arrhythmias. Curr Opin Pediatr 20:522–531

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the support of Monika Butz in documenting the procedure. The development of percutaneous fetoscopic techniques for fetal cardiac interventions has been supported by educational and research grants (Grants Nos. Ko 1484/1-1, Ko 1484/2-1, Ko 1484/3-1, Ko 1484/3-2, and Ko 1484/3-3) from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bonn, Germany.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, German Center for Fetal Surgery and Minimally Invasive Therapy, University of Bonn Medical School, 53105, Bonn, Germany

    Thomas Kohl

  2. Department of Cardiology, Münster University Children’s Hospital, 48149, Münster, Germany

    Thomas Kohl

  3. Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University Hospital of Bonn, 53105, Bonn, Germany

    Ulrike Herberg

Authors
  1. Thomas Kohl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ulrike Herberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas Kohl.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kohl, T., Herberg, U. Fetoscopic Fetal Transesophageal Electrocardiography: A Minimally Invasive Tool for Cardiac Monitoring, Diagnostics, and Intervention in Human Fetuses. Pediatr Cardiol 31, 717–719 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-010-9658-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-010-9658-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation