title: Echocardiographic studies of the human fetus: prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease and cardiac dysrhythmias.
abstract: During obstetrical ultrasound examinations, 200 M-mode and 35 real-time two-dimensional echocardiographic studies were performed on 180 fetuses of high-risk pregnancies. Fetal gestational ages ranged from 18 to 41 weeks. M-mode "sweeps" demonstrating mitral- and septal-aortic fibrous continuity were obtained in 115 studies. Paradoxic septal motion in 50 fetuses suggested relarive right ventricular volume loading. Congenital cardiac malformations were accurately diagnosed in a 34-week fetus with pulmonary atresia and hypoplastic right ventricle and in a 28-week fetus with a univentricular heart. Congenital complete atrioventricular block was diagnosed in a 28-week fetus and atrial flutter with variable atrioventricular block was diagnosed in a 38-week fetus. The use of echocardiographic studies to evaluate cardiac structure and rhythm in utero assists in counseling prospective parents and in planning postnatal management for their offspring.
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000175:diagnosis; D003376:Counseling; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006327:Heart Block / Q000175:diagnosis; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012306:Risk