title: Fetal two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography (colour flow mapping) and its place in prenatal diagnosis.
abstract: One hundred and fifty fetuses between 16 and 38 weeks of gestation were studied by fetal echocardiography using colour-coded two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography. Two-dimensional, M-mode, and Doppler spectral analyses were also performed. In 14 fetuses, structural and/or functional abnormalities were detected. Abnormalities were correctly ruled out in all the other fetuses. The advantages of two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography are (1) rapid screening for flow abnormalities in the fetal heart, and thus shortening of the Doppler examination time; (2) rapid diagnosis of valvular regurgitation, valvular stenosis, and abnormal shunting of blood across the interatrial and interventricular septa; and (3) facilitation of the diagnosis of complex congenital heart defects which in certain cases is possible only by using two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography.
authors: Abt. für Pränatale Diagnostik und Therapie, Universitäts-Frauenklinik, Bonn, F.R.G.
authors: U
authors: U
authors: Gembruch
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Hansmann
authors: D A
authors: DA
authors: Redel
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Bald
mesh_terms: D003326:Coronary Circulation; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D014188:Transposition of Great Vessels / Q000175:diagnosis