Premium
The growing role of fetal echocardiography
Author(s) -
MENAHEM S.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.1991.tb00354.x
Subject(s) - medicine , fetus , fetal echocardiography , cardiology , stenosis , clinical practice , fetal heart , ventricular function , pregnancy , heart disease , radiology , doppler echocardiography , prenatal diagnosis , genetics , family medicine , blood pressure , diastole , biology
ABSTRACT The advent of cross‐sectional echocardiography has revolutionized the practice of cardiology. Technical advances have greatly improved resolution, permitting clear definition of anatomical detail and thereby facilitating a segmental approach to congenital heart disease (defining connections) and the visualization of malformations (e.g. aortic valvar stenosis). In addition to being able to assess ventricular function, wall thickness, vessel and chamber size, the advent of Doppler interrogation enables estimation of flow and gradients across valves, vessels, etc. Echocardiography has become increasingly indispensable in clinical practice and its extension to the prenatal area is not surprising, especially as it is regarded as being safe to the growing fetus, thereby permitting repeated examination. 1 Winsberg's initial ultrasound recording of a fetal heart, 2 has led to great advances in fetal echocardiography permitting anatomical diagnoses, an assessment of cardiac function and also aiding in the treatment of fetal arrhythmias and providing information on fetal well‐being. 3 The information so generated has contributed to the formulation of optimal management plans for the pregnancy, delivery and care of the affected neonate. 4