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Updated: Dec 22, 2025
Hemodynamic Precision in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit using Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography
Published on: January 27, 2023
Implementation of a statewide, multisite fetal tele-echocardiography program: evaluation of more than 1100 fetuses
Elijah H Bolin1, R Thomas Collins2, Thomas H Best3
1Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR, 72202, USA. ehbolin@uams.edu.
Objectives:
We sought to describe the implementation and effectiveness of a statewide fetal tele-echocardiography program serving a resource-limited population.
Study Design:
In 2009, our heart center established six satellite clinics for fetal tele-echocardiography around the state. We retrospectively reviewed all fetal tele-echocardiograms performed through 2018. Yearly statewide prenatal detection rates of operable congenital heart disease were queried from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons database.
Result:
In 1164 fetuses, fetal tele-echocardiography identified all types of congenital heart disease, with a sensitivity of 74% and specificity of 97%. For the detection of ductal-dependent congenital heart disease, fetal tele-echocardiography was 100% sensitive and specific. Between 2009 and 2018, annual statewide prenatal detection rates of congenital heart disease requiring heart surgery in the first 6 months of life rose by 159% (17-44%; R2 = 0.88, p < 0.01).
Conclusions:
The present study provides a framework for an effective, large-scale fetal tele-echocardiography program.
