Premium
The role of fetal echocardiogram after detection of extracardiac anomalies in utero (fetal echocardiogram for extracardiac malformations)
Author(s) -
Barris David M.,
Brailovschi Yaniv,
Shah Amee,
Levasseur Stéphanie,
NhanChang ChiaLing,
Miller Russell,
Simpson Lynn,
Freud Lindsay R.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
prenatal diagnosis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.956
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1097-0223
pISSN - 0197-3851
DOI - 10.1002/pd.6012
Subject(s) - medicine , fetus , odds ratio , in utero , fetal echocardiography , prenatal diagnosis , craniofacial , confidence interval , pregnancy , obstetrics , cardiology , genetics , psychiatry , biology
Objective We aimed to investigate the utility of comprehensive screening fetal echocardiography (FE) for patients diagnosed with any type of fetal extracardiac malformation (ECM) at a single multidisciplinary fetal center. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients presenting to our referral center for FE due to a prenatal diagnosis of ECM (January 2013–December 2018). Results Among 641 patients with ≥1 ECM referred for FE, 78 (12.2%) had CHD diagnosed at 25.6 ± 0.5 weeks. The frequency of CHD by type of ECM ranged from 35.1% for craniofacial to 9.8% for thoracic. Increasing number of fetal ECMs was strongly associated with CHD: odds ratio 2.01 (95% confidence interval: 1.06–3.69) for two ECMs, 9.57 (2.00–49.05) for three ECMs, and 11.68 (3.84–37.15) for more than three ECMs. Of fetuses with ECM and an abnormal genetic finding, 33.3% had CHD as compared to 10.9% of those without ( p < 0.0001). Obstetric anatomy sonogram detected 43.6% of CHD. Conclusion CHD was commonly diagnosed among fetuses with any type of ECM at our center but was not always detected on obstetric sonogram. As the presence of CHD may impact decision‐making and perinatal care, patients with a diagnosis of any fetal ECM should be considered for FE.