Key result
Fetal echocardiography detected congenital heart disease in 8% (4 of 50) of high-risk pregnant women, with postnatal confirmation in all but one case.
Why the study?
Fetal echocardiography is mostly reserved for high-risk pregnant women, but its utility beyond high-risk cases remains relevant as early identification improves perinatal outcomes.
Does fetal echocardiography accurately detect congenital heart disease in high-risk pregnant women?
Observational (n=50)
Does fetal echocardiography accurately detect congenital heart disease in high-risk pregnant women?
Fetal echocardiography performed between 18-24 weeks of pregnancy is highly accurate in detecting congenital heart disease in high-risk mothers, showing strong concordance with postnatal findings.
May support targeted fetal echocardiography in high-risk pregnancies; hypothesis-generating and requires validation in larger prospective studies.
Introduction: 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. Materials and Methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusion: 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.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Gojnur et al. (2020) conducted an observational in High risk pregnancy for fetal congenital heart disease (n=50). Fetal echocardiography was evaluated on Diagnosis of fetal congenital heart disease (CHD). Fetal echocardiography detected congenital heart disease in 8% (4 of 50) of high-risk pregnant women, with postnatal confirmation in all but one case.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: