Massive Feto-Maternal Hemorrhage: Diagnosis by Cardiotocography, Doppler Ultrasonography and ST Waveform Analysis of Fetal Electrocardiography

Vol. 21, No. 1, 2006

Free Abstract Article (References) Article (PDF 562 KB)

Paper

Massive Feto-Maternal Hemorrhage: Diagnosis by Cardiotocography, Doppler Ultrasonography and ST Waveform Analysis of Fetal Electrocardiography
Peter Malcus^a, Lars J. Björklund^b, Monica Lilja^a, Pia Teleman^a, Ricardo Laurini^c

Departments of
^aObstetrics and Gynecology,
^bPediatrics, and
^cPathology, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden

Address of Corresponding Author

Fetal Diagn Ther 2006;21:8-12 (DOI: 10.1159/000089040)

Key Words

Decreased fetal movements
Fetal anemia
Feto-maternal hemorrhage
Fetal ECG-ST waveform changes
Middle cerebral artery flow velocity
Sinusoidal CTG pattern
Placenta pathology

Abstract

A 34-year-old healthy gravida 2 para 1 presented after an uncomplicated pregnancy at term with a 2-day history of diminished fetal movements. Fetal anemia was suspected by fetal heart rate monitoring and Doppler estimation of the fetal peak blood flow velocity of the middle cerebral artery. We were also fortunate to register pathological ST waveform changes of the fetal ECG indicating fetal hypoxia. The diagnosis of a massive feto-maternal hemorrhage was confirmed by an extremely high fraction of erythrocytes containing fetal hemoglobin in maternal blood and, after delivery, by placental histology.

Author Contacts

Peter Malcus, PhD
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
University Hospital, Lund
SE-22185 Lund (Sweden)
Tel. +46 46 171000, Fax +46 46 157868, E-Mail peter.malcus@med.lu.se

Article Information

Received: March 10, 2004
Accepted after revision: August 31, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 3, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 17

Medline Abstract (ID 16354967)

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