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Updated: Oct 13, 2025
Fetal Mouse Cardiovascular Imaging Using a High-frequency Ultrasound 30/45MHZ System
Published on: May 5, 2018
Screening the second-trimester fetal heart in women with an increased body mass index using three-dimensional volume
Deborah Wye1, Joyce Woo1, Brendan Mein1
1Christopher Kohlenberg Department of Perinatal Ultrasound Nepean Hospital Penrith New South Wales Australia.
Purpose:
To determine the percentage of fetal cardiac anatomy as detailed in the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology Practice Guidelines on sonographic screening examination of the fetal heart, which can be visualised in women with a body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m2 using three-dimensional (3D) volume sweeps.
Methods:
3D volumes of the fetal heart were taken prospectively in 40 fetuses during routine second-trimester fetal anatomy scan. Scans and 3D volume sweeps were performed by two experienced sonographers and two experienced raters interpreted the 3D data. 3D volume acquisitions and post-processing analysis were performed according to the techniques described by Weissmann-Brenner et al.
Results:
The two raters were able to detect an average of 12.9 and 14.1 of the 16 parameters in the 40 patients. Agreement between raters for the 16 parameters had an average of 80%. Five parameters (stomach, situs, heart occupies a third of thoracic area, majority of heart in the left chest and cardiac axis) were detected by both raters on all patients. The range of agreement was between 40% and 100%. The three-vessel view and bifurcation had agreement <60%.
Conclusion:
Consistent identification of all views of the fetal heart was not achieved using the simple method described in women with a BMI > 30 kg/m2.
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