Four chamber view plus three-vessel and trachea view for a complete evaluation of the fetal heart during the second trimester.
OBJECTIVE
To test the efficacy of a recently introduced ultrasonic scanning plane (three vessel and trachea view -3VTV- plus color flow mapping -3VTVC) on a low-risk population for detection of congenital heart disease (CHD).


METHODS
Antenatal clinic dealing with local low-risk population. All antenatal patients having a second trimester scan in a 1 year period. All patients had a 3VT plus 3VTC views added to routine four chamber view. Postnatal examinations were performed according to standard hospital protocol.


RESULTS
2847 patients were examined. The plane was achievable in all 23 fetuses with CHD detected, three false negative (aortic coarctation) and two false positive. Sensitivity of the examination was 88.5%, as high as more sophisticated and difficult targeted cardiac scanning. The extra time necessary to perform the test was minimal.


CONCLUSIONS
3VTV and 3VTCV were satisfactory used as imaging planes in a busy antenatal clinic in a low-risk population. They could be easily added to the four chamber view as routine screening for CHD and increase the detection rate to 90%.
Del Bianco
Antongiulio
A
Dipartimento Materno Infantile, Unità Operativa di Ostetricia e Ginecologia 2, Policlinico Univesitario, Foggia, Italy. antongiulioado@libero.it
Russo
Salvatore
S
Lacerenza
Nicola
N
Rinaldi
Matteo
M
Rinaldi
Giuseppe
G
Nappi
Luigi
L
Greco
Pantaleo
P
D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014132:Trachea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data