[The pre-ejection-period of the humen fetal heart: significance of base-line alterations in perinatal period].

The Pre-ejection period of the cardiac cycle, fetal heart rate and uterine contractions were monitored in a series of 115 unselected fetus sub partu. A new one-line technique permits a continuous registration of PEP patterns simultaneously with the CTG. Any change in base-line of the PEP war related to heart rate, acid-base-status and gestational age. The average value of PEP in fetus was 72,93 +/- 7,9 msec. The base-line of PEP increased paralelly with gestational age of fetus and decreased rapidly beyond normal values after the 41. week of gestation. Within normal values alterations in base-line of the PEP were negativly correlated to alterations in base-line of the heart rate. Abnormal high and low base-lines of the PEP were observed in fetal acidosis, hypoxemia, and in uteroplacental insufficiency. The prolonging or shortening of the PEP base-line seems to signalize an acute injury of the utero-feto-placental unit in perinatal period.