[Treatment of foetal supraventricular tachycardia with antiarrhythmic medication administered through the umbilical vein].

Foetal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) with hydrops foetalis is associated with a high morbidity and mortality rate. If SVT with hydrops foetalis persists despite transplacental therapy, direct foetal treatment can be initiated. One foetus was found to have SVT with hydrops foetalis during the 29th week of pregnancy, and the condition persisted despite transplacental treatment. Amiodarone was administered directly via the umbilical vein, and the SVT resolved. A second foetus was found to have SVT with hydrops foetalis during the 28th week of pregnancy. The condition persisted despite maternal antiarrhythmic medication. Direct treatment of the foetus with amiodarone was successful. Amiodarone is the treatment of choice for direct foetal therapy for SVT, and can be administered safely via the umbilical vein. Direct foetal therapy should be considered for the treatment of foetal SVT with hydrops foetalis that occurs in the first 31 weeks of pregnancy and persists despite adequate transplacental therapy.