Doppler in fetal heart failure.
Fetal echocardiography has progressed to be able to diagnose many forms of congenital heart disease (CHD) and to assess the prognosis of cardiac lesions based on their anatomy and presentation in utero. Fetal echocardiography is for pregnancies at risk of structural, functional, and rhythm-related fetal heart disease. Routine obstetrical ultrasound screening is critical in the prenatal detection of fetal heart disease/CHD. With or without CHD, fetal heart dysfunction defined as inadequate tissue perfusion may occur. Perinatal problems other than CHD can also be assessed, such as the effects of noncardiac malformations that affect hemodynamics, that is, twin-twin transfusion. Cardiac rhythm can affect cardiac function and outcome, and prenatal diagnosis can be lifesaving. A tool for the assessment of cardiac function is the Cardiovascular Profile Score that combines ultrasonic markers of fetal cardiovascular unwellness based on univariate parameters, which have been correlated with perinatal mortality. This "heart failure score" could potentially be used in much the same way as and in combination with the biophysical profile score. This study will present a summary of fetal Doppler and its place in the diagnosis and assessment of prognosis of fetal heart failure.
Perinatal Cardiology, Congenital Heart Institute of Florida, Tampa Bay, Florida, USA. AA4MD@aol.com
James C
JC
Huhta
James J
JJ
Paul
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004077:Digoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D015160:Hydrops Fetalis / Q000175:diagnosis; D011247:Pregnancy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004077:Digoxin