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Fetal magnetocardiography (fMCG): moving forward in the establishment of clinical reference data by advanced biomagnetic instrumentation and analysis

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Published/Copyright: February 10, 2012
Journal of Perinatal Medicine
From the journal Volume 40 Issue 3

Abstract

Cardiotocography and echocardiography are currently standard for fetal heart monitoring. However, both do not provide adequate temporal resolution to measure fetal cardiac time intervals and detect arrhythmias, which can occur during normal sinus rhythm. Fetal magnetocardiography (fMCG) is a non-invasive technique measuring magnetic signals generated by fetal heart activity. Most fMCG devices are installed in research institutions limiting the implementation of this method in a clinical setting. Several institutions made a step forward by installing devices, in particular for fetal investigations, in hospital sites to evaluate the clinical benefit. Based on instrumentation differences which can affect signal quality, there is still no established reference database for fetal cardiac time intervals. A new magnetograph dedicated to fetal recordings was implemented with improved patient comfort. The setting was optimized to establish a standard. A total of 103 healthy fetuses starting as early as possible after the first trimester were recorded and fMCG values of cardiac time intervals were compared to former studies. Data allowed high and reliable detection for all fMCG components starting at 17 weeks. The data were comparable to fMCG multicenter studies, fetal electrocardiography and neonatal ECG results and could serve as a database of norm values for further investigation of fetal arrhythmias.

Keywords: Biosignal processing; fetal cardiac time intervals (fCTIs); fetal magnetocardiography (fMCG)
Corresponding author: Prof. Diethlem Wallwiener Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology University Hospital of Tübingen Calwerstr. 7 D-72076 Tübingen Germany Tel.: +49 7071 2982246 Fax: +49 7071 292202
Received: 2011-6-15
Revised: 2011-11-25
Accepted: 2011-11-28
Published Online: 2012-02-10
Published in Print: 2012-04-01

©2012 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston

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https://doi.org/10.1515/jpm.2011.139
Keywords for this article
Biosignal processing; fetal cardiac time intervals (fCTIs); fetal magnetocardiography (fMCG)

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Review Article
  2. Retinal microvascular changes in low-birth-weight babies have a link to future health
  3. Original Articles – Obstetrics
  4. Chromosomal mosaicisms in prenatal diagnosis: correlation with first trimester screening and clinical outcome
  5. Perinatal impact of the use of metformin and glyburide for the treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus
  6. Incidence and causes of maternal thrombocytopenia in triplet gestation
  7. Maternal and paternal age and twinning in the United States, 2004–2008
  8. Correlates of the trend of cesarean section rates in twin pregnancies
  9. Prospective risk of stillbirth: monochorionic diamniotic twins vs. dichorionic twins
  10. Association between increased yolk sac diameter and abnormal karyotypes
  11. No “masculinization” effect of a male on birth weight of its female co-twin
  12. Comparison of risk calculation approaches in a screening programme for Down syndrome
  13. Individual decisions in placenta increta and percreta: a case series
  14. Original Articles – Fetus
  15. Fetal sex and perinatal outcomes
  16. Fetal magnetocardiography (fMCG): moving forward in the establishment of clinical reference data by advanced biomagnetic instrumentation and analysis
  17. Maternal and fetal cord blood lipids in intrauterine growth restriction
  18. Assessment of long-axis ventricular function in the fetal heart with a tissue-tracking algorithm
  19. Original Articles – Newborn
  20. A cluster of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus colonization in a nursery
  21. Intermittent flushing improves cannula patency compared to continuous infusion for peripherally inserted venous catheters in newborns: results from a prospective observational study
  22. Opinion Paper
  23. Cross-over training in neonatology and obstetrics
  24. Congress Calender
  25. Congress Calendar
  26. Masthead
  27. Masthead
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