Fetal echocardiography

Abstract

USG performed with a high-end machine, using a good cine-loop facility is extremely helpful in the diagnosis of fetal cardiac anomalies. In fetal echocardiography, the four-chamber view and the outflow-tract view are used to diagnose cardiac anomalies. The most important objective during a targeted anomaly scan is to identify those cases that need a dedicated fetal echocardiogram. Associated truncal and chromosomal anomalies need to be identified. This review shows how fetal echocardiography, apart from identifying structural defects in the fetal heart, can be used to look at rhythm abnormalities and other functional aspects of the fetal heart.

Keywords

• Arch of aorta
• ductus arteriosus
• fetal echo
• fetal echocardiography
• inferior vena cava
• left ventricular outfl ow tract
• pulmonary artery
• pulmonary veins
• right ventricular outfl ow tract
• superior vena cava