Fetal echocardiography: are we getting it right?
OBJECTIVE
To determine the diagnostic accuracy of prenatal fetal echocardiography.


METHODS
The study was a retrospective chart review of 190 consecutive patients over a 3-year period from November 1998 to February 2002 of all women referred to the Maternal Fetal Medicine unit, Mater Mothers Hospital, for fetal echocardiography. The prenatal diagnosis was compared with the postnatal diagnosis made by postnatal echocardiography, surgical findings or post-mortem. The accuracy of prenatal diagnosis was described on a predetermined 4-point scale.


RESULTS
Of the 89 patients, for whom complete diagnostic follow-up was available, there was complete agreement between the prenatal and postnatal diagnosis in 63 cases, minor discrepancies in 25 cases and major disagreement in 1 case.


CONCLUSIONS
In experienced hands, fetal echocardiography is accurate and allows medical staff and patients information in order manage a pregnancy appropriately.
Shub
A
A
Maternal Fetal Medicine, Mater Mothers Hospital, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia. ashub@obsgyn.uwa.edu.au
Ward
C
C
Lee-Tannock
A
A
Justo
R
R
Cincotta
R
R
D004452:Echocardiography; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity