[Fetal Cardiology. Experiences from a tertiary referral centre in Stockholm, Sweden]

Fetal Cardiology. Experiences from a tertiary referral centre in Stockholm, Sweden This review provides a brief overview of the current position and clinical experiences of fetal cardiology at a tertiary referral centre in Stockholm, Sweden. In Stockholm, more than 60% of congenital cardiac defects requiring surgery or catheter intervention before one year of age are detected before birth. This not only results in termination of pregnancy in the majority of cases carrying a poor prognosis, but also conveys a better postnatal care and prognosis in cases of continued pregnancy. Almost all mechanisms generating fetal arrhythmias are elucidated using Doppler techniques, and arrhythmia treatment is preferably given in utero. Prenatal fetal echocardiography also provides the diagnostic tool necessary to detect and follow treatment of extracardiac conditions associated with fetal heart failure.