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Objectives: To investigate the clinical course of fetal tachycardia and analyze the impact of intrauterine treatment on the postnatal treatment and patient outcomes.Study Design: This was a retrospective review of cases of fetal tachycardia that occurred from 2004 to 2006. Data were collected from questionnaires that were sent to all 750 secondary or tertiary perinatal care centers in Japan.Results: Eighty-two cases (14 with fetal hydrops) were analyzed (supraventricular tachycardia [SVT], n = 52; atrial flutter [AFL], n = 23; and ventricular tachycardia, n = 7). The overall mortality was 3.7%. Intrauterine treatment was performed for 41 fetuses (50.0%). Digoxin, flecainide and sotalol were mainly used for SVT and AFL. Fetal tachycardia resolved in 90.0% (27/30) of the cases without fetal hydrops and 90.9% (10/11) of the cases with fetal hydrops. Intrauterine treatment significantly reduced the incidence of cesarean delivery (29.3 vs. 70.7%, p < .01), preterm birth (12.2 vs. 41.5%, p = .02) and neonatal arrhythmias (48.8 vs. 78.0%, p = .01) in comparison to untreated fetuses.Conclusions: This nationwide survey revealed that intrauterine treatment was performed for approximately half of the cases of fetal tachycardia and was associated with lower rates of cesarean delivery, premature birth and neonatal arrhythmias in comparison to untreated fetuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated experiences related to prenatal testing among mothers of children with disabilities in Japan. Nearly one third (31.2%) of the mothers gave birth at ≥35 years, and 16.8% of them underwent prenatal testing. As for mothers of children with Down syndrome, 60.5% of them gave birth at ≥35 years, and 14.6% of them underwent prenatal testing. Qualitative data also revealed that, even though women 35 years of age or older wanted to undergo amniocentesis, their doctors did not always actively recommend this. A more woman-centered approach, based on the woman’s desire to be informed regarding prenatal testing, is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japan is one of the few countries to have enacted legislation on eugenics. Consequently, there has been active public debate about the practice of selective abortion for over 35 years. Furthermore, discrimination against disabilities is deep-rooted in Japanese society and the quality of offspring is a common concern. Given this background, the obvious conclusion might be that couples in Japan would have no hesitation in using reproductive technologies to ensure the best possible chance of giving birth to higher quality offspring. Yet, research indicates that when it comes to decision-making in the course of a pregnancy, not all individuals choose testing or termination, even when prenatal diagnosis indicates the presence of congenital conditions. Other factors play a role in reproductive decision-making, including age at time of pregnancy and reproductive history including infertility treatment. Against this background, this paper analyses accounts of five pregnancies - two of which resulted in termination and three which went to full term despite receiving test results showing possible birth defects - with the aim of identifying factors influencing whether or not to terminate a pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]