Fetoscopic fetal transesophageal electrocardiography: a minimally invasive tool for cardiac monitoring, diagnostics, and intervention in human fetuses.

Therapy-refractory supraventricular tachycardias commonly result in hydrops and death in human fetuses. Fetal transesophageal electrocardiography may aid in understanding its underlying electrophysiological mechanism and allow stimulation. Percutaneous fetoscopic deployment of an electrode catheter into the fetal esophagus by way of a single trocar was performed in a human fetus and permitted the recording of a fetal transesophageal electrocardiogram at 35 + 6 weeks of gestation. Fetal transesophageal electrocardiography can be achieved in human fetuses by way of a minimally invasive percutaneous fetoscopic approach and carries the potential to improve diagnosis and management of therapy-refractory supraventricular tachycardias in human fetuses.