Prenatal echocardiography in the diagnosis of fetal double aortic arch

Abstract

Objective To explore the way of prenatal echocardiography in the diagnosis of fetal double aortic arch. Methods The data of fetuses diagnosed as double aortic arch in 6 prenatal centers in Hunan in echocardiograms performed at 20-36 weeks of gestation from 2013 to 2018 were reviewed. The characteristics of echocardiographic with double aortic arch, and the associated malformations were observed, the clinical outcome were analyzed. Results The main echocardiographic features of the double aortic arch were three-vessel-tracheal views, which showed a bifurcation of the ascending aorta and a ring consisted of aortic right and left arch. From this retrospective analysis, 29 double aortic arches were identified, which 8 cases (28%) combined with cardiac defect and extracardiac abnormalities, 1 case with 22q11 deletion. Among them, 5 cases were confirmed by autopsy, 24 cases were diagnosed by computed tomography angiography(8 cases were confirmed by operation). Conclusions Systematic prenatal echocardiography in the diagnosis of fetal double aortic arch has significant clinical value in the cliagnose of double aortic arch, whether it is associated with other malformations and is important for assessing fetal prognosis. Key words: Ultrasonography, prenatal; Fetal; Double aortic arch