A simplified method to determine fetal laterality and cardiac position with a single transverse ultrasound sweep of fetal thorax

Abstract

Fetal echocardiography is now an indispensable tool to detect a wide range of cardiac anomalies in utero. The cardiac evaluation for congenital heart disease follows the sequential segmental analysis, and the first step is the determination of the abdominal situs and cardiac position. There is a range of complex cardiac anomalies in heterotaxy syndromes, and the determination of fetal situs is of foremost importance in understanding the complex cardiac anomalies. Students of fetal echocardiography always have a dilemma when deciding on fetal situs. Here, we describe a simple way of easily determining fetal situs.

Keywords

• fetal echocardiography
• fetal laterality
• fetal situs