Ann Cardiol Cardiovasc Med | Volume 1, Issue 2 | Research Article | Open Access
Cara Monica, Tudorache Stefania, Dimieru Roxana, Florea Maria, Patru Ciprian and Iliescu Dominic*
Prenatal Diagnostic Unit, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova, Romania
*Correspondance to: Iliescu Dominic
Fulltext PDFAn efficient first trimester cardiac scan offers the possibility to terminate earlier, safer, and with less economic and emotional costs the pregnancy in cases where major fetal abnormalities are detected. FT anomaly scan was initially offered to high-risk groups and selected population, but because many CHD were found in low risk population, many authors agreed to screen all pregnancies for CHD. It was stated that two-dimensional ultrasound, performed on a standardized protocol, is feasible and repeatable within and between observers in visualizing the normal heart structures as early as 11-13.6 GW. In terms of detection rate of major CHD, recent reports have advocated a percentage of 80-90% when an extended standardized heart screening protocol is used. Nevertheless, this detection rate can vary depending of several factors such as the protocol used, studied population (high or low-risk), scan route (transvaginal, transabdominal or both), definition and prevalence of major congenital heart disease (CHD). CHD early markers, as increased nuchal translucency, abnormal tricuspid and ductus venosus flowsare important indicators for further fetal echocardiographic investigation, as early as possible. Despite the significant impact of the first trimester screening on pregnancies with major congenital heart diseases, we should not underestimate the value of the second trimester fetal anomaly scan, as some cardiac abnormalities are undetectable early in the first trimester, or the expression of the anomaly may be minimal.
Monica C, Stefania T, Roxana D, Maria F, Ciprian P, Dominic I. Prenatal First Trimester Assessment of the Heart. Ann Cardiol Cardiovasc Med. 2017;1(2):1008.