The intraventricular conduction time of fetal heart in pregnancies with suspected fetal growth retardation.

Electrocardiographs from 68 fetuses with ultrasound evidence of growth retardation were recorded from the maternal abdomen; QRS duration was measured and compared to normal standards previously obtained in our Institute. Of these fetuses, 54 were small-for-gestational-age at birth and 44 exhibited QRS duration values below -2 SD for their gestational age. All but one of the 14 normal fetuses showed normal QRS values (positive predictive value = 98%; negative predictive value = 57%). Of 11 fetuses with QRS duration values below -4 SD, nine were particularly small, below the 2nd centile of weight for gestation. QRS duration measurements may represent a sensitive method for identifying fetal growth-retardation. The QRS duration also seems to provide a reliable prognosis of perinatal outcome. Normal values are a reassuring factor: abnormal cardiotocographic records were observed in only 2 out of 23 cases and no low Apgar scores or perinatal deaths occurred. QRS values below -4 SD proved to be associated with abnormal cardiotocographic records (7/13), low Apgar scores (5/15) and perinatal deaths (3/15).