TWO-DIMENSIONAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF NORMAL FETAL CARDIAC ANATOMY

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 29  (3) , 162-167
Abstract
The fetal heart is visualized routinely during the antepartum ultrasound examination. Because of the advent of high-resolution, real-time ultrasound instruments, details of fetal cardiac anatomy can now be defined. Consecutive fetuses (50) were examined in utero to assess the ability of 2-dimensional echocardiography to define intracardiac anatomy at various gestational ages. A complete examination required at least 3 standard echocardiographic views of the heart: 4-chamber, short-axis and long-axis views. In 30 of the 50 fetuses studied (60%), only 1 examination was necessary to obtain this information. Ten patients had a 2nd examination later in gestation that complemented the findings of their 1st study. In all but 2 fetuses, detection of all 4 cardiac chambers and at least 1 semilunar valve was possible. Mitral-semilunar valve continuity was detected in all. The quality of echocardiographic imaging was enhanced by the fetal occiput posterior position (3 views obtained in 83% of the fetuses studied). Breech position did not affect imaging quality. Prior to 30 wk of gestation, fetal movement hampered analysis of fetal cardiac anatomy in some patients.