Abstract 15357: Assessing the Utility of Serial Fetal Echocardiography in Detecting In-Utero Changes for Single Ventricle Lesions

Abstract

Introduction: Current guidelines recommend serial fetal echocardiograms (FE) for fetuses with single ventricle lesions (SV) to identify in-utero changes that can impact delivery management, but there is sparse data on the utility of serial FE. We aim to evaluate the incidence of serial FE changes in fetuses with SV. Hypothesis: There is a low incidence of in-utero changes in serial FE for fetuses with SV. Methods: Fetuses with SV and > 1 serial visit between 1/1/2012 to 1/1/2023 were retrospectively reviewed. FE were reviewed for significant, defined serial changes in the following: atrioventricular valve, ventricular function, atrial communication, ductus arteriosus, umbilical artery, umbilical vein, systemic venous Dopplers, hydrops, arrhythmias. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare proportions with change between both segmental findings and SV sub-type. Results: A total of 721 FE for 248 patients were reviewed, the majority with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) (64%) and tricuspid atresia (15%). There was a mean of 2.9 visits per patient and 21 days between FE. Out of 3,699 possible changes, there was a total of 56 (1.5%) changes in 41 patients seen on all follow-up FE (Table 1). The most common changes were worsening atrial level restriction (10, 2.4%) and arrhythmias (10, 2.4%), all of which were premature atrial contractions (p<0.01). Out of 56 changes, only 20 (36%) were critical with clinical impact on perinatal management and 2 (4%) showed progressive, serial worsening. Most changes (85%) were noted in the third trimester. There were no differences in incidence of change on serial FE between SV sub-types (p=0.10). Conclusions: SV fetuses have a low incidence of significant physiologic change on serial FE, and progressive worsening of physiologic findings is even rarer. Special consideration should be given to those with HLHS who may develop atrial level restriction. This data should be considered in planning clinical follow-up intervals for fetal SV.