title: Factors affecting the prognosis of Ebstein's anomaly during fetal life.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The echocardiographic criteria that have been used to evaluate severity of Ebstein's anomaly in utero are the same as those applied after birth.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to establish prognostic criteria that take into account the peculiarities of the fetal hemodynamics.
  
  
  METHODS
  The video recordings of eight fetuses with Ebstein's anomaly were retrospectively reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The following indexes had no prognostic significance either on fetal or neonatal outcome: the ratio of functional tricuspid opening over the diameter of the annulus, the degree of displacement of the tricuspid valve opening, and the degree of tricuspid regurgitation. The index of severity (based on the surfaces of right atrium + atrialized right ventricle) and the cardiothoracic ratio had a significant impact only on neonatal survival. The smallest fossa ovalis were found in two fetuses who had hydrops. Fetuses who reached term without problems had higher left ventricular outputs. A positive linear correlation was found between the z score of the left ventricular output and the size of the fossa ovalis (r = 0.81, p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prognosis of Ebstein's anomaly during fetal life is not influenced by criteria described for postnatal life and may be related to factors that control the volume load of the left ventricle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Sainte-Justine Hospital, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pavlova
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Fouron
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Drblik
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: van Doesburg
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bigras
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smallhorn
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harder
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robertson
mesh_terms: D004437:Ebstein Anomaly / Q000196:embryology* / Q000401:mortality; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000209:etiology; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000196:embryology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000196:embryology; D014262:Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / Q000196:embryology; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left