Comparative Study of the Electrocardiograms of Healthy Fullterm and Premature Newborns

Thomaidis, C.; Varlamis, George; Karamperis, Stergios

doi:10.1111/j.1651-2227.1988.tb10725.x

Cited by 15 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…The average birthweight may differ between the cooperating centres, as it depends on the sex of the infant, the ethnic group of the mother, smoking, high altitude and many other factors 11 . A positive relationship between birthweight and the durations of the P‐wave and the QRS complex was also found in a study of immature newborns 12 .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

Multicentre study of fetal cardiac time intervals using magnetocardiography

Stinstra

Golbach

Leeuwen³

et al. 2002

BJOG

106

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Objective A database with reference values of the durations of the various waveforms in a magnetocardiogram of fetuses in uncomplicated pregnancies is assessed. This database will be of help to discriminate between pathologic and healthy fetuses. A fetal magnetocardiogram is a recording of the magnetic field in a location near the maternal abdomen and reflects the electric activity within the fetal heart. It is a non-invasive method, which can be used with nearly 100% reliability from the 20th week of gestation onward. Design Durations of the waveforms were assembled from averaged magnetocardiograms and statistically processed. Setting Fetal magnetocardiograms were measured with different magnetocardiographs. All measurements were carried out in magnetically shielded rooms. Sample Fetal magnetocardiograms were obtained for 582 healthy patients.Method The durations of the waveforms were extracted from fetal magnetocardiograms measured at the cooperating centres. The variables collected included the duration of the P-wave, the PR interval, the PQ interval, the QRS complex, the QT interval and the T-wave and QTc value. The results were compared with values extracted from electrocardiograms of fetuses measured via electrodes attached to the maternal abdomen, from electrocardiograms measured during labour using a scalp electrode, and from electrocardiograms recorded in newborns, that were found in the literature. Main outcome measures Values of the durations are given as a function of gestational age including the regression line as well as the bounds marking the 90%, 95% and 98% prediction interval. Results The durations of the P-wave, the PR interval, the QRS complex, the QT interval and QTc value increase linearly with gestational age. The durations of the PQ interval and the T-wave are independent of fetal age. Conclusion The values found agree with those found in the literature. The scatter of the data is wide due to the variation in normal physiology, the measuring system and signal processing and the subjectivity of the researcher. However, the system can define normal ranges and may be used in diagnosis.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

Multicentre study of fetal cardiac time intervals using magnetocardiography

Stinstra

Golbach

Leeuwen³

et al. 2002

BJOG

106

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“…Newer imaging data [21] showed that the indexed mass of the left ventricle in GA weeks 29 to 37 de- clined more rapidly than the mass of the right ventricle consistent with a transition from LV dominance toward RV dominance. These findings of initial LV dominance changing to RV dominance toward term have been previously reported [22][23][24] although some discrepancies exist [25]. However, the anatomical and hemodynamic changes after birth are well described [4,22] and consistently show a switch toward LV dominance reflecting the transition from neonatal circulation with closure of the ductus arteriosus and foramen ovale as well as marked changes in pulmonary hemodynamics.…”

Section: -28 Dayssupporting

confidence: 63%

The Evolution of the Neonatal QRS Axis during the First Four Weeks of Life

et al. 2021

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Background: The QRS axis represents the sum and orientation of the ventricular depolarization. Accurate interpretation of abnormalities in the QRS axis may facilitate early diagnosis of heart disease in newborns. We aimed at describing the evolution of the QRS axis during the first 4 weeks of life and provide reference values from healthy newborns. Methods: The Copenhagen Baby Heart Study is a prospective general population study that offered cardiac evaluation during the first month of life to all newborns delivered in the Copenhagen area. Results: Electrocardiograms from 12,317 newborns (52% boys; mean age 12 days) with normal echocardiograms were included. The median QRS axis was 119° at the ages 0–7 days and shifted leftward to 102° at the ages 22–28 days (p < 0.001). We found that girls had a significantly less pronounced right-shifted axis than boys (p < 0.001) and that increasing gestational age (GA) was associated with a more pronounced right-shifted axis (p < 0.05). Infant size did not affect the axis (p > 0.05). Only 0.5% had an axis within the interval 0 to −90° and 1.1% in the interval +240 to +30°. Conclusions: The QRS axis showed a gradual leftward-shift during the first 4 weeks of life and was affected by sex and GA but unaffected by infant size. Less than 1% of the newborns had a QRS axis between 0 and −90°. This study represents updated reference values, which may facilitate the clinical handling of newborns.

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“…Fetal electrocardiographic studies show that the progressive increase in the QRS duration (with advancing gestation) parallels the gain in the weight of the fetal heart (Brambati and Pardi, 1980;Morgan and Symonds, 1991). A positive correlation between birthweight and duration of the P wave and QRS complex was also found in a study of premature newborns (Thomaidis et al, 1988). In addition, fECG and fMCG studies on fetuses with IUGR (presumably with smaller-sized hearts) have demonstrated a decrease in the PR interval (Van Leeuwen et al, 2001) as well as QRS width (Pardi et al, 1986).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%