Ultrasonographic evaluation of the fetal heart

Demir N.

Journal of the Turkish German Gynecology Association, cilt.9, sa.3, ss.178-184, 2008 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Derleme
  • Cilt numarası: 9 Sayı: 3
  • Basım Tarihi: 2008
  • Dergi Adı: Journal of the Turkish German Gynecology Association
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.178-184
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Congenital heart disease, Fetal echocardiography, First trimester, Prenatal diagnosis, Second trimester
  • Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Congenital heart diseases (CHD) are the most common congenital anomalies, and most cases occur in the low-risk population. The majority of babies with congenital heart disease are born to mothers with no identifiable high-risk factors and so will not be detected unless there is widespread screening of the low-risk population. Congenital heart disease is eight times more common than trisomy 21 and four times more common than neural tube defects, the two conditions for which universal screening programs are in place. But, most of the countries in Europe do not perform routine fetal cardiac screening. Staff performing routine obstetric ultrasound scans should learn a simple technique for examining the fetal heart and to use this in all patients. The aim of this review is to discuss the diagnostic efficacy of the first-trimester and second trimester fetal cardiac screening as a routine measure in an unselected 'low-risk' population.