[Prenatal diagnosis of fetal congestive heart failure by color flow imaging and pulse Doppler ultrasound].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate prenatal diagnosis of fetal congestive heart failure (CHF) by Color Doppler Flow Imaging (CDFI) and pulse Doppler Ultrasound (PU).


METHODS
3,841 pregnant women were detected by ultrasound. Maternal-placental-fetal circulation surveillance by high resolution Doppler ultrasound was performed in 302 high-risk pregnancies. The diagnosis of CHF is dependent upon (1) The cardiac area/chest area ratio > 0.33; (2) An abnormal umbilical vein pulsation; and (3) Tricuspid regurgitation.


RESULTS
There were six deaths that all had abnormal umbilical vein pulsation and five cases who had C/T area ratio > 0.33. CHF accounted 0.17% in all the pregnancies and 2% in high-risk pregnancies.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that blood velocity recording abnormal pulsed sign in the umbilical veins and C/T area ratio of the fetus can give valuable clinical information with regard to the presence of fetal CHF. Fetus with CHF almost always had poor outcome. CDFI and PU may have implications for fetal diagnostic work-up and prognosis.
Chen
X
X
Hubei Maternal and Children Health Hospital, Wuhan 430070, China.
Chen
C
C
Yi
Z
Z
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D018617:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal