Fetal Cardiac Dysfunction
Overview
Causes
Causes may be:
- Problems with the genes of the heart
- Problems with structures of the heart
- Infections
- Drugs, alcohol, nicotine, and some medicines
Risk Factors
Things that may raise the risk of this problem are:
- Having other family members who had heart problems at birth
- Chromosome problems in the child
- Prior pregnancy with heart problems or miscarriage
-
Health problems during pregnancy, such as:
- Having a virus, such as rubella
- Having diabetes
- Drinking alcohol
- Taking certain medicines
- Not enough blood getting to the baby
SymptomsandDiagnosis
Symptoms
The symptoms depend on the type of defect. Problems may be:
- Out of sync, extra, or missed heartbeats
- Heart beats too fast
- Heart beats too slowly
Treatments
Treatment
This problem may get better on its own in some children. In others, treatment will be needed based on the type of defect.
Surgery may be done to correct the problem while the baby is still in the womb. A baby may also have surgery after birth, such as:
- Catheterization—a tube is inserted through the veins and into the heart for testing or a procedure
- Pacemaker insertion—a small, battery-operated device is inserted into the heart to help it keep a normal heartbeat
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Edits to original content made by Denver Health.
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