Fetal magnetocardiography:: development of the fetal cardiac time intervals

Objectives: To analyse the physiologic development of fetal cardiac time internals throughout gestation using fetal magnetocardiograph (FMCG). Methods: FMCG data of 163 uncomplicated pregnancies (19th and 42nd gestational week) ere analysed, mean value, standard deviation, minimum and maximum of the duration of the P-wave the QRS-complex, the PR and the QT-interval v are plotted against gestational age. Results QRS-complex. P wave and QT-interval showed a significant lengthening between the 20th and 42nd gestational week. The mean of the QRS complex raised front 36+/-4.7 ms (week 21 24) up to 48+/-5.2 ins (greater than or equal to37th week). (p=0.0001). The mean of the P-wave as between 47+/-5.9 ins (week 21 24) and 53+/-9.5 ms (greater than or equal to37th week) (p=0.05) and the mean of the QT-interval as 198+/-18 ins (week 2 1 24) and increased up to 244+/-23.9 ins (greater than or equal to37th week). (p=0.009). The PR-interval did not show a correlation kith gestational age. Conclusion: FMCG provides sufficient information about all Parts of the fetal cardiac conduction system from the 19th gestational week on. It offers the possibility to analyse the shape and the duration of the PQRST-complex. Copyright (C) 2002 John Wile Sons. Ltd.