Fetal cardiac structure and function as studied by ultrasound

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Fetal Cardiology
• Obstetrics

Background:

• Two-dimensional real-time and M-mode echocardiography offer advanced fetal cardiac assessment.
• Understanding normal fetal cardiac development is crucial for identifying abnormalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe standard scanning planes for systematic fetal cardiac investigation.
• To report on the incidence of fetal cardiac defects and their association with dysrhythmia.

Main Methods:

• Utilized combined 2D real-time and M-mode echocardiography for fetal cardiac analysis.
• Systematically scanned fetal cardiac structures during the last trimester of pregnancy.

Main Results:

• Observed a curvilinear increase in left ventricular volume, stroke volume, and output during the last trimester, with a mean output of 126 +/- 11 ml/kg/min at term.
• Diagnosed 13 cardiac defects in 444 referred patients.
• Found a 15% incidence of structural cardiac defects in fetuses with dysrhythmia.

Conclusions:

• Echocardiography is effective for detailed fetal cardiac structure and function analysis.
• Optimal timing for scanning for cardiac defects is between 18 and 24 weeks gestation.
• Fetal dysrhythmia is associated with a higher incidence of structural cardiac defects.