In utero evaluation of fetal cardiac structure: a preliminary report.
Fetal echocardiography as a tool for the prenatal diagnosis of cardiac structural abnormalities was utilized in 27 consecutive patients who were referred for evaluation. Four abnormalities were recognized prenatally and confirmed postnatally. A fifth was identified postnatally. The sensitivity and specificity of this diagnostic test were 80% and 100%, respectively. The utilization of this tool in a tertiary care setting by an adequately trained team has proved to be helpful and is recommended.
D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000473:pathology; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis