title: Simplified first-trimester fetal cardiac screening (four chamber view and ventricular outflow tracts) in a low-risk population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to assess the accuracy of a simplified fetal cardiac study, inclusive of four-chamber view (4CV) and ventricular outflow tracts, performed during the 11-14 week screening by well-trained obstetricians to detect congenital heart diseases (CHDs).
  
  
  METHODS
  A transabdominal ultrasound was performed on 4820 singleton pregnant women at 11-14 weeks to visualize the visceral site, the 4CV, and the outflow tracts. Neonatal outcomes were recorded 6 and 12 months after birth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 4820 patients reviewed, 790 were excluded because of loss at prenatal or postnatal follow-up (649 cases), or inability to obtain adequate first-trimester sonographic cardiac evaluation (141 cases). Among the 4030 included cases, 32 CHD cases were detected (20 major and 12 minor); 18 of the major (90%) and five of the minor (42%) were detected or suspected in the first trimester, one major and six minor in the second trimester, and one major and one minor only after birth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A simplified protocol is an effective tool to screen for CHD at 11-14 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, University Hospital 'Paolo Giaccone', Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Orlandi
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perino
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Musicò
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Orlandi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D012307:Risk Factors; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult