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(Circulation. 1973;48:890.)
© 1973 American Heart Association, Inc.

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De Subitaneis Mortibus

II. Coronary Embolism in the Fetus

THOMAS N. JAMES M.D.¹; PETER FROGGATT M.D., PH.D.¹; THOMAS K. MARSHALL M.D.¹

¹ From the Cardiovascular Research and Training Center, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama (Dr. James) and the Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland (Drs. Froggatt and Marshall).

The unexpected finding of a right coronary artery embolism in a human fetus of five months gestational age led to an examination of the hearts of 15 other fetuses lost at approximately the same period of pregnancy. No other examples of coronary embolism were found, indicating that this is not a frequent cause of fetal death. Possible mechanisms of death in the index case are discussed on the basis of the anatomic distribution of the coronary arteries, the blood supply to the sinus node and atrioventricular junction, and the configuration of the interatrial septum.

Key Words: Spontaneous abortion • Sudden death • Human fetal heart