Two-dimensional fetal echocardiography: where we are

Caserta, Luigi and Ruggeri, Zaira and D'Emidio, Laura and Coco, Claudio and Cignini, Pietro and Girgenti, Alessandra and Mangiafico, Lucia and Giorlandino, Claudio (2008) Two-dimensional fetal echocardiography: where we are. Journal of prenatal medicine, 2 (3). pp. 31-35. ISSN 1971-3290

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Abstract

Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is the most common severe congenital abnormality in the newborn and the cause of over half the deaths from congenital anomalies in childhood. Prenatal diagnosis, possible as early as 15 weeks of gestation, allows physicians and families the greatest number of therapeutic options, and can improve the postnatal outcome. There are several potential indications for performing such examination. Evaluation of the heart in the setting of restricted fetal growth or fetal distress is often recommended. Whenever extracardiac anomalies are detected during fetal ultrasound examination or in presence of chromosomal abnormalities detected with amniocentesis, cardiac assessment is mandatory. The test should also be performed as part of the assessment of fetal arrhythmias. Finally, whenever congenital heart disease is suspected for other reasons, such as maternal exposure to teratogenic substances or a parental history of previous children with congenital lesions, the examination should be considered. The performance of a fetal echocardiogram requires experience and a systematic approach. Guidelines for training have been formulated, and only qualified individuals should perform this highly specialized examination. A description of the techniques of heart examination is presented below.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Fetal, echocardiography, congenital, cardiopathy
Subjects:	600 Tecnologia - Scienze applicate > 610 Medicina e salute (Classificare qui la tecnologia dei servizi medici) > 618 Altri rami della medicina; Ginecologia e ostetricia, Pediatria, Geriatria > 618.3 Malattie e complicazioni della gravidanza
Depositing User:	Gianni Aiello
Date Deposited:	10 Feb 2014 17:32
Last Modified:	10 Apr 2014 08:33
URI:	http://eprints.bice.rm.cnr.it/id/eprint/5722

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