Transvaginal ultrasound can detect fetal cardiac dysfunction, including impaired contractility and reduced left ventricular fractional shortening, as early as 13-17 weeks' gestation.
May enable earlier fetal cardiac assessment; hypothesis-generating and should not yet alter prenatal screening practice.
Cardiac dysfunction was observed with transvaginal ultrasound in 12 fetuses at 13-17 weeks' gestation. Impaired contractility of the heart and significant reduction of the left ventricular fractional shortening were noted in these fetuses. Three of the fetuses also had supraventricular tachycardia. Many of the fetuses had cardiomegaly, oligohydramnios, a thick placenta, or associated cardiac and structural anomalies.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Zimmer et al. (1997) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: