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The Ultrasonic Microsurgical Anatomical Comparative Study of the CHD Fetuses and Their Clinical Significance
Xiaosong Li1, Hongmei Xia2, Dan Wang3
1Chongqing Center for Clinical Laboratory, Chongqing Municipal People's Hospital, Chongqing, China ; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience Center, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
Insights
This study combines ultrasound and microanatomy to improve the detection of congenital heart disease (CHD) in fetuses. The integrated approach enhances prenatal diagnosis accuracy by providing detailed anatomical insights for better fetal cardiac ultrasound examinations.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Fetal Medicine
- Anatomy
Background:
- Congenital heart disease (CHD) detection rates in fetuses can be improved.
- Prenatal diagnosis of fetal cardiac malformations relies heavily on ultrasound.
- A need exists for enhanced anatomical correlation in fetal echocardiography.
Purpose of the Study:
- To increase the detection rate of fetal cardiac malformations in congenital heart disease (CHD).
- To establish an ultrasonic standard section for CHD cases.
- To provide a microsurgical anatomical basis for prenatal ultrasonic diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- Combined ultrasonic and microanatomical methods for studying CHD cases.
- Established ultrasonic standard sections from 175 complex CHD cases.
- Dissected induced/aborted fetuses using ultrasonic microsurgical anatomy after fixation.
Main Results:
- Obtained fetal cardiac anatomic cross-sectional images consistent with ultrasonic standards.
- Clearly visualized the internal structure of vascular malformations in CHD fetuses.
- Optimized ultrasound examinations by providing individual anatomical correlations.
Conclusions:
- The integrated approach significantly improves the clarity and comprehensiveness of fetal cardiac malformation visualization.
- This method consolidates anatomical understanding of complex fetal cardiac malformations.
- The study enhances the integrity and accuracy of prenatal cardiac ultrasound examinations.
Abstract:
The aim of our study was to increase the detection rate of fetal cardiac malformations for congenital heart disease (CHD). The ultrasonic and microanatomical methods were combined to study the CHD cases firstly, which could provide the microsurgical anatomical basis to the prenatal ultrasonic diagnosis which was used in suspected CHD and help the sonographer to improve the quality of fetal cardiac diagnosis. We established the ultrasonic standard section of the 175 complex CHD cases and collected the fetal echocardiography image files. The induced/aborted fetuses were fixed by 4% paraformaldehyde and dissected by the ultrasonic microsurgical anatomy. This research could obtain the fetal cardiac anatomic cross-sectional images which was consistent with the ultrasonic standard section and could clearly show the internal structure of the vascular malformation that optimized the ultrasound examination individually. This method could directly display the variation of the CHD fetal heart clearly and comprehensively help us to understand the complex fetal cardiac malformation from the internal structure of the vascular malformation which was consolidated by the anatomical basis of the fetal heart. This study could improve the integrity and accuracy of the prenatal cardiac ultrasound examination tremendously.
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