Accuracy of the Fetal Echocardiography in the High Risk Pregnancies

摘要: When introduced in diagnostics, two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound revolutionized many fields of clinical medicine.1,2 Among them, the cardiology gained a huge advantage 2D ultrasonography for postnatal diagnostics and treatment congenital cardiac defects. Jan Donald, father modern obstetrical ultrasonography, could not predict how helpful significant will become prenatal diagnosis fetal problems.1,2 About twenty-five years ago significance heart defects (CHDs) was considered very important prognosis fetus, outcome pregnancy, possibility correction or lifesaving intervention prediction life quality newborn family. The incidence CHD is estimated to be 0.8 1000 liveborn infants, therefore this new diagnose them prenatally, has also public-health implications.3-5 Another question, raised but so far solved during development echocardiography, that screening necessary all, only high-risk pregnancies.6 Very criterion method its simplicity, good sensitivity specificity, acceptable reliability low costs.7,8 It revealed echocardiography improved by visualization four-chamber view depiction great arteries outflow tracts same fetus.9 Is education screeners alone sufficient achieve goal utmost importance improvement as method? answer question still unequivocal, because improvements technology telemedicine are opening promising possibilities even those who experts.10-14 introduced, threeand four-dimensional (3D 4D) quite exciting cardiology.12-14 Medications rhythm disturbances have been used successfully years. Prenatal interventions, rarely performed on heart, becoming more available with nonsurgical methods defect repair.15 where headed? At beginning 1990s, first trimester transabdominal transvaginal route assessment developed order define well-being possible aneuploidy.6,16-21 An increasing rate terminations pregnancies take place earlier CHD. In survive, interventions some cases while others, early tertiary centers.15,22 aim chapter give brief overview field echocardiography.