Ultrasound Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Ultrasound, including details on screening, diagnosis, pregnancy, detection.

Early fetal echocardiography--a reliable prenatal diagnosis tool.

McAuliffe FM, Trines J, Nield LE, Chitayat D, Jaeggi E, Hornberger LK

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the feasibility and to report the detection rate of cardiac anomalies with fetal echocardiography before 16 weeks' gestation. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective and prospective study of 160 early fetal echocardiograms. The mean gestational age was 13.5 weeks' gestation (range 11-15+6). All women had a repeat echocardiogram at 18 weeks' gestation and pregnancy outcome was obtained. RESULTS: In all cases, a cardiac 4-chamber view was obtained. The atrioventricular valves were accurately seen in 154 (96%) cases; the ascending aorta and main pulmonary artery were visualized in 152 cases (95%). Overall, a satisfactory cardiac examination was feasible in 152 of cases (95%). There were 20 cardiac defects in this cohort (12.5%), 14 showed abnormalities at the time of the early ultrasound, whereas 6 were reported as normal. The sensitivity of early fetal echocardiography in this high-risk population was 70%, specificity 98%, positive predictive value 87.5%, and negative predictive value 96%. CONCLUSION: The fetal heart can be examined early in pregnancy and a significant proportion of major cardiac defects identified.

Published 13 September 2005 in Am J Obstet Gynecol, 193(3): 1253-9.
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