title: Is the short axis view of the fetal heart useful in improving the diagnostic accuracy of outlet ventricular septal defects?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Outlet ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are usually suspected on the five-chamber view of the fetal heart; however, postnatal confirmation occurs only in a small number of cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate if the systematic assessment of the short axis view may improve the prediction of prenatally detected outlet VSDs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cases where isolated outlet VSD was suspected on the five-chamber view were assessed by using the short axis scanning plane for confirmation of the defect. Postnatal assessment was performed within 2 weeks from birth at our Paediatric Cardiology Unit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An outlet VSD was suspected at five-chamber view in 23 fetuses. Postnatal confirmation of the VSD occurred in 14 cases where the defect was prenatally detected both on the five chamber and the short axis views. VSDs were not confirmed at postnatal assessment only in two cases where outlet VSD was suspected on both views, whereas all the seven cases with a suspected VSD on the five-chamber view only turned out to be false positives.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The short axis view of the fetal heart seems useful in confirming the presence of outlet VSDs. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dall'Asta
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Hospital 'P. Barilla', Neonatology Unit, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cavalli
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Volpe
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Hospital 'P. Barilla', Neonatology Unit, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Adi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Christine Tita
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Kaihura
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Hospital 'P. Barilla', Neonatology Unit, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agnetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Frusca
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Tullio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ghi
mesh_terms: D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006345:Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000592:standards; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*