Fetal Heart

Introduction Auscultation of the fetal heart is a common event in antenatal care, in early pregnancy it may be associated with false negative results, which require ultrasound scan to confirm fetal viability. Methods We studied 197 women in early pregnancy to determine the gestational age at which the fetal heart can be reliably identified and the factors which determined the accuracy of the test. Results The proportion of successful auscultations increased with advancing gestation (p  Conclusion For a sensitivity of 90%, the fetal heart should be auscultated after 13 week gestation. If a sensitivity of 80% is acceptable the fetal heart can be auscultated after 12 + 1 week gestation.

Heart development is a complex process during which the heart needs to transform from a single tube towards a fully septated heart with four chambers and a separated outflow tract. Several major events contribute to this process, that largely overlap in time. Abnormal heart development results in congenital heart disease, which has an estimated incidence of 1% of liveborn children. Eighty percent of cases of congenital heart disease are considered to have a multifactoral developmental background, whereas knowledge of monogenetic causes for congenital heart disease is still limited. This review focuses on several novel findings in cardiac development that might enhance our knowledge of aetiology and support refinement of prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease.

Purpose.To evaluate sonographic measurements of the fetal liver, fetal abdominal fat layer, interventricular septum, and Wharton's jelly area between 21 and 24 weeks' gestation in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).To evaluate sonographic measurements of the fetal liver, fetal abdominal fat layer, interventricular septum, and Wharton's jelly area between 21 and 24 weeks' gestation in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Methods.A total of 123 consecutive healthy pregnant women underwent sonographic examination at 21–24 weeks' gestational age. The measurements included fetal biometry, detailed anomaly scan, and fetal body composition measurements (subcutaneous fat, liver size, cardiac muscle thickness, and Wharton's jelly area). GDM was confirmed by way of a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test using World Health Organization criteria within 1 week of the examination.A total of 123 consecutive healthy pregnant women underwent sonographic examination at 21–24 weeks' gestational age. The measurements included fetal biometry, detailed anomaly scan, and fetal body composition measurements (subcutaneous fat, liver size, cardiac muscle thickness, and Wharton's jelly area). GDM was confirmed by way of a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test using World Health Organization criteria within 1 week of the examination.Results.Nineteen (15.4%) women were diagnosed with GDM, while 104 (84.6%) women were without GDM. The mean fetal liver length was 36 mm (95% CI 32–37) in women with GDM and 31 mm (95% CI 30–33) in women without GDM (p < 0.01). Liver enlargement was related to maternal fasting glucose levels and not 2-hour postprandial levels. There was no significant difference in the fetal biometric and other fetal body measurements between the 2 groups.Nineteen (15.4%) women were diagnosed with GDM, while 104 (84.6%) women were without GDM. The mean fetal liver length was 36 mm (95% CI 32–37) in women with GDM and 31 mm (95% CI 30–33) in women without GDM (p < 0.01). Liver enlargement was related to maternal fasting glucose levels and not 2-hour postprandial levels. There was no significant difference in the fetal biometric and other fetal body measurements between the 2 groups.Conclusions.The findings of this study suggest that midtrimester fetal liver length appears to be longer in GDM than in normal pregnancies. However, the fetal abdominal fat layer, interventricular septum, and Wharton's jelly were not affected. Nevertheless, further, larger randomized studies are required to confirm these findings. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 2007The findings of this study suggest that midtrimester fetal liver length appears to be longer in GDM than in normal pregnancies. However, the fetal abdominal fat layer, interventricular septum, and Wharton's jelly were not affected. Nevertheless, further, larger randomized studies are required to confirm these findings. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 2007

The ductus venosus (DV) is a tiny vessel leading oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetal heart and its flow assessment has been used as an indicator of fetal acidemia. At 11 to 14 weeks, the fetuses with increased nuchal translucency also showing an abnormal DV blood flow were consistently found to be aneuploid. Early cardiac dysfunction, signaled by abnormal DV blood flow, was suggested as the underlying cause of increased nuchal translucency. Detection rates for aneuploidy with the use of DV blood flow studies range from 59 to 93% with 2 to 21% false-positive rates. In fetuses with normal karyotype, an abnormal DV flow pattern signals cardiac defects or adverse perinatal outcome.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the independent contribution of ductus venosus (DV) blood flow assessment at 11–14 weeks' gestation to the prediction of congenital heart defects (CHD) in chromosomally normal fetuses, irrespective of the value of the nuchal translucency thickness (NT).To evaluate the independent contribution of ductus venosus (DV) blood flow assessment at 11–14 weeks' gestation to the prediction of congenital heart defects (CHD) in chromosomally normal fetuses, irrespective of the value of the nuchal translucency thickness (NT).MethodsDuring a 4-year period, all singleton pregnancies from 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks' gestation were scanned for NT and DV blood flow in a tertiary center. Abnormal DV blood flow was defined as either absent or reversed flow during atrial contraction (AR-DV). Fetal echocardiography was performed in all cases with either NT > 99th percentile or AR-DV. Follow-up was assessed by postnatal examination or autopsy in cases of termination of pregnancy or perinatal death.During a 4-year period, all singleton pregnancies from 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks' gestation were scanned for NT and DV blood flow in a tertiary center. Abnormal DV blood flow was defined as either absent or reversed flow during atrial contraction (AR-DV). Fetal echocardiography was performed in all cases with either NT > 99th percentile or AR-DV. Follow-up was assessed by postnatal examination or autopsy in cases of termination of pregnancy or perinatal death.ResultsA total of 6120 pregnancies were scanned at a median gestational age of 12 weeks, and 45 cases of CHD were detected. AR-DV was found in 206 fetuses, of which 145 (70.4%) had a normal karyotype. Among fetuses with AR-DV and normal karyotype, 11 cases of CHD were diagnosed, giving a sensitivity of 24.4%, a positive predictive value of 7.6% and an odds ratio of 9.8. Increased NT (> 99th centile) was present in 55 of the 145 (37.9%) cases with AR-DV and normal karyotype, and in 6/11 (54.5%) of those with CHD. Thus, the group of 90 fetuses with abnormal DV blood flow and normal NT contained five cases of CHD, for a sensitivity of 11.1%, a positive predictive value of 5.5% and an odds ratio of 8.5. Right-heart anomalies were predominant in those cases with isolated AR-DV (4/5), but no specific CHD pattern was found in those with increased NT. The detection rate of CHD by the combined use of increased NT and/or AR-DV in the first trimester improved from 28.9% (13/45) to 40.0% (18/45).A total of 6120 pregnancies were scanned at a median gestational age of 12 weeks, and 45 cases of CHD were detected. AR-DV was found in 206 fetuses, of which 145 (70.4%) had a normal karyotype. Among fetuses with AR-DV and normal karyotype, 11 cases of CHD were diagnosed, giving a sensitivity of 24.4%, a positive predictive value of 7.6% and an odds ratio of 9.8. Increased NT (> 99th centile) was present in 55 of the 145 (37.9%) cases with AR-DV and normal karyotype, and in 6/11 (54.5%) of those with CHD. Thus, the group of 90 fetuses with abnormal DV blood flow and normal NT contained five cases of CHD, for a sensitivity of 11.1%, a positive predictive value of 5.5% and an odds ratio of 8.5. Right-heart anomalies were predominant in those cases with isolated AR-DV (4/5), but no specific CHD pattern was found in those with increased NT. The detection rate of CHD by the combined use of increased NT and/or AR-DV in the first trimester improved from 28.9% (13/45) to 40.0% (18/45).ConclusionsIn experienced hands, abnormal DV blood flow in the first trimester is an independent predictor of CHD and should constitute an indication for early echocardiography. In this study, the use of DV blood flow assessment increased early detection of CHD by 11% with respect to the use of NT measurement alone. Copyright © 2010 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.In experienced hands, abnormal DV blood flow in the first trimester is an independent predictor of CHD and should constitute an indication for early echocardiography. In this study, the use of DV blood flow assessment increased early detection of CHD by 11% with respect to the use of NT measurement alone. Copyright © 2010 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

There was no family history of cardiomyopathy, although first degree relatives had not been screened. Her heart rate was 74. Blood pressure was 110/70. Jugular venous pressure was normal. Carotid pulse volume and contour were normal. The first and second heart ...

The prevalence of intra-uterine ductal dysfunction is unknown and the clinical consequences are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the echocardiographic (ECHO) abnormalities and outcomes of this rare phenomenon. Methods and results Retrospective analysis of foetal (n ¼ 602) and neonatal ECHO databases (n ¼ 1477) between 1998 and 2007. Clinical and imaging studies were reviewed

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a repeated antenatal ultrasound examination improves fetal cardiac visualization for the obese and nonobese population. A computerized ultrasound database (October 1999-June 2003) was used to identify singleton pregnancies undergoing repeated prenatal ultrasound examinations because of initial suboptimal ultrasonographic visualization (SUV) of the 4-chamber view, outflow tracts, or both. Women with maternal diabetes, abnormal maternal serum screening results, or known fetal anomalies at the initial examination were excluded. Patients were classified by maternal body mass index (BMI): less than 30 kg/mg2 (nonobese), 30 to 34.9 kg/mg2 (class I obesity), 35 to 39.9 kg/mg2 (class II obesity), and 40 kg/mg2 or greater (morbid obesity). The association between maternal BMI and SUV of the fetal heart was analyzed. Three hundred seventy-two patients were abstracted from the database. The median gestational age was 19.0 weeks at the initial ...