Fetal echocardiography and its role in high risk antenatal mothers

Abstract

Fetal echocardiography is a screening tool mostly reserved for high risk pregnant women. Early identification of cardiac anomalies improves perinatal outcomes. However this tool need not be restricted to high risk cases only but can be used for all pregnant women. This 6 month observational study included singleton pregnant women aged 18-40yrs attending antenatal clinic with one to two decisive risk factors for fetal congenital heart disease (CHD). A fetal echocardiography was done between 18 to 24 week of pregnancy. Of the 50 cases a total of 4 cases of CHD’s were diagnosed by abnormal fetal echocardiography. The remaining 46 cases showed a complete accord between fetal and postnatal echo findings except one case where a membranous VSD with Left to Right shunt, was detected by pretnatal echo but was absent in the post natal finding. Our study strongly endorse all mothers to undergo fetal echocardiogram by trained specialists who are at risk of congenital heart disease such as maternal congenital heart disease and diabetes in pregnancy.