Fetal Echo: Application of Four Chamber View and Additional Views in Obstetrics Anomaly Scan and Third Trimester Low-Risk Pregnancy

Abstract

This article presents a step-wise process to evaluate fetal cardiac anatomy by the radiologist and the pediatric cardiologist, to become more familiar while assessing the four chamber view including the views for the outflow tracts. The additional views include bicaval view, three-vessel view (3VV), three- vessel trachea view (3VT), and aortic arch view. M-mode, color flow mapping and pulse Doppler ultrasound are useful to evaluate cardiac anatomy and function. If the heart does not look normal, the patient should be referred to dedicated fetal echo centre for detailed evaluation. Ductus venosus Doppler, cardiovascular profile score and visualization of thymus in 3-vessel view have also been described in brief.

Keywords

• anomaly scan
• congenital heart disease
• fetal echo
• four-chamber view of heart
• low risk pregnancy
• prenatal diagnosis