Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 30, 2025

A Pipeline to Characterize Structural Heart Defects in the Fetal Mouse
Published on: December 16, 2022
Dilated ascending aorta in the fetus
Ioana Dumitrascu-Biris1,2, Vita Zidere1,2, Trisha Vigneswaran1,2
1Fetal Cardiology Unit, Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Evelina London Children's Healthcare, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Introduction:
Prenatal recognition of dilated aortic root is extremely rare and there are significant challenges in counselling these patients. The primary aim of this case series is to describe the prevalence, associations and outcome of dilated ascending aorta diagnosed during fetal life.
Methods:
This is a retrospective cohort study from two tertiary fetal cardiology centres. Dilated ascending aorta was defined as gestation-specific standard deviation > 1.96 at some point during gestation.
Results:
Sixteen infants were live born and underwent postnatal echocardiography. Prenatally suspected bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) (n = 6) was confirmed in 5 cases (83%) postnatally. Thirteen children have been followed up for a period of minimum one year. No connective tissue disease was found.
Conclusions:
Prenatal dilated ascending aorta is a rare finding (0.06%). It is associated with BAV in 37% of cases and extracardiac abnormalities in 15.7%. Nuchal translucency measurement was >3.5 in 13% of cases. Connective tissue disease was not diagnosed postnatally. This is the largest prenatal cohort with dilated ascending aorta and postnatal outcomes to date. We showed a postnatal persistence of ascending aortic dilatation in 43% of babies. In the absence of extra-cardiac abnormalities, medium term outcome appears good but postnatal surveillance of aortic dilation is required.
Related Concept Videos
The Aorta
The average diameter of the aorta is approximately 2-3 cm, but the size can vary depending on the section of the aorta and the individual's age, sex, and body size. The aorta is...
Fetal Circulation
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
Abdominal Aorta
The celiac trunk, a singular artery, divides into the left gastric artery, which...
Aneurysm I: Introduction
Development of the Heart
As the embryo undergoes lateral folding, these paired tubes approach each other, merging into a single primitive heart...
Thoracic Aorta

