title: Two-dimensional fetal echocardiography: where we are.
abstract: Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is the most common severe congenital abnormality in the newborn and the cause of over half the deaths from congenital anomalies in childhood. Prenatal diagnosis, possible as early as 15 weeks of gestation, allows physicians and families the greatest number of therapeutic options, and can improve the postnatal outcome. There are several potential indications for performing such examination. Evaluation of the heart in the setting of restricted fetal growth or fetal distress is often recommended. Whenever extracardiac anomalies are detected during fetal ultrasound examination or in presence of chromosomal abnormalities detected with amniocentesis, cardiac assessment is mandatory. The test should also be performed as part of the assessment of fetal arrhythmias. Finally, whenever congenital heart disease is suspected for other reasons, such as maternal exposure to teratogenic substances or a parental history of previous children with congenital lesions, the examination should be considered. The performance of a fetal echocardiogram requires experience and a systematic approach. Guidelines for training have been formulated, and only qualified individuals should perform this highly specialized examination. A description of the techniques of heart examination is presented below.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Gorizia, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caserta
authors.forename: Zaira
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ruggeri
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: D'Emidio
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coco
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cignini
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Girgenti
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mangiafico
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giorlandino