Fetal cardiac arrhythmias are increasingly more frequently discovered by cardiotocographic monitoring beginning at the 30th week of gestation. The computation of systolic time intervals represents a noninvasive technique to evaluate the cardiovascular performance of these fetuses. The pre-ejection period, ventricular ejection time and duration of systole of 41 healthy fetuses, two fetuses with supraventricular tachycardia and one with complete atrio-ventricular block were computed on the basis of abdominal fetal electrocardiogram and phonocardiogram. One fetus with supraventricular tachycardia had a pathologic prolonged pre-ejection period and duration of systole. This fetus became acidotic during delivery and died from persistent cardiac arrhythmia and congestive heart failure after 2 years. Further investigations should be done in order to prove, if a prolonged pre-ejection period and duration of systole have a significant value. According to the present experiences of the author a vaginal delivery can be recommended, if normal systolic time intervals exist in the arrhythmic fetus.

The authors demonstrate a rare case of an adenocarcinoma of the uterus associated with a uterus septus. The concomitance of carcinoma and congenital uterine anomalies is coincidental and has no causal connection. Congenital anomalies of the uterus which remain undetected can be responsible for serious delay in diagnosis of carcinoma and may adversely interfere with treatment efforts.

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750 cardiotocographic curves of the last 30 minutes prior to vaginal delivery were assessed retrospectively according to the CTG score after Hammacher et al. (6). The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic value of the CTG score with regard to the foetal acid-base stains. The results obtained showed a distinct interdependence between the CTG score and the risk of foetal acidosis. Correct interpretation of the CTG can be ensured only if all three different CTG parameters are considered. The most frequent and reliable pointers to the existence of foetal acidosis are the occurrence of severe variable or late decelerations which can be detected from an examination of the floating-line pattern.