Premium
The diagnostic value of fetal heart biometry in early pregnancy
Author(s) -
Smrcek Jan,
Germer U.,
Berg C.,
Gembruch U.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-0705.2001.abs19-3.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ductus venosus , fetus , fetal echocardiography , cardiology , fetal heart , gestation , gestational age , umbilical vein , pulsatile flow , pregnancy , prenatal diagnosis , biochemistry , genetics , chemistry , in vitro , biology
Purpose: To evaluate the value of early cardiac biometry for the detection of congenital heart defects (CHD) using our normative data. Methods: Cases were selected from all cases with CHD diagnosed between 10 and 17 weeks of gestation between 1999 and 2000. Detailed fetal two‐dimensional and color‐coded Doppler echocardiography was performed. The transversal heart diameter, both ventricular dimensions, heart area and circumference, thoracic diameter, thoracic circumference and area and the diameters of the pulmonary trunk and ascending aorta were measured. Results: A total of 31 cases of CHD between 10 and 17 weeks of gestation were diagnosed. Eight fetuses presented with insufficient biometric measurements. In the remaining 23 fetuses different complex abnormalities were present. In three fetuses with an atrioventricular septal defect and two with a ventricular septal defect fetal heart biometry showed normal values. In 18/23 fetuses with CHD fetal heart biometry was partly abnormal. Nuchal translucency (NT) thickness measurements were performed before 14 weeks of gestation and 10/12 fetuses presented with an increased NT. Both fetuses with normal NT showed an abnormal fetal heart biometry. Venous Doppler evaluation was performed in 22 cases, 12 fetuses demonstrated an increased pulsatility in the ductus venosus and 7 with a pulsatile flow in the umbilical vein in addition. In 7/10 fetuses with normal venous Doppler fetal heart biometry was partly abnormal. Conclusion: Early fetal heart biometry may be helpful in the prenatal diagnosis of some major CHD by demonstration of discordant diameters of the fetal heart and great arteries. At 10–14 weeks of gestation, nuchal translucency thickness measurements and biometric measurements of the fetal heart seem to be complementary methods for the detection of cardiac defects.