Intrauterine diagnosis and control of fetal ventricular arrhythmia during labor.

A very rare case of a sustained fetal ventricular arrythmia in the form of bigeminy, trigeminy, and quadrigeminy during labor is described. The rhythm distrubance failed to respond to sedatives and narcotics but was successfuly reverted to sinus rhythm following the administration of intravenous propranolol to the mother. The significance and possible mechanism of the arrhythmia is discussed.