The role of fetal nuchal translucency and ductus venosus Doppler at 11–14 weeks of gestation in the detection of major congenital heart defects

Abstract

Objective

Accuracy of the Fetal Echocardiography in the High Risk Pregnancies

“…6 In a study of 1,040 fetuses at 11th to 14th weeks of gestation, Doppler velocimetry of the ductus venosus in the combination with nuchal translucency improved predictive capacity of CHD detection in chromosomally normal fetuses. 20 In 29 chromosomally normal fetuses, increased nuchal translucency and reversed or absent flow during atrial contraction of the ductus venosus was found, and in 9 fetal echocardiography revealed major CHD. 20 A total of 25 CHD were detected in the whole population, 15 of whom were associated with aneuploidy.…”

“…20 In 29 chromosomally normal fetuses, increased nuchal translucency and reversed or absent flow during atrial contraction of the ductus venosus was found, and in 9 fetal echocardiography revealed major CHD. 20 A total of 25 CHD were detected in the whole population, 15 of whom were associated with aneuploidy. 20 They concluded that in chromosomally normal fetuses with increased nuchal translucency, assessment of ductus venosus blood flow velocimetry could improve the predictive capacity for an underlying major cardiac defect.…”

“…[3][4][5][6]9,[23][24][25] Most cases of CHD occur in otherwise normal pregnancies, although the risk of CHD is markedly increased in aneuploidies. 6,11,20,26 It was revealed in the 1980s that fetal echocardiography could predict correctly structural malformations of the heart with the conclusion that the technique is sufficiently reliable to give an accurate prognosis in early pregnancy and provide the basis for alterations in obstetric management. 3 In a series of 1,600 pregnancies 34 cases of CHD were correctly identified by fetal Donald School Journal of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jan-Mar 2007;1(1):86-95 echocardiography with the confirmation of the diagnosis by anatomical study.…”

“…20 A total of 25 CHD were detected in the whole population, 15 of whom were associated with aneuploidy. 20 They concluded that in chromosomally normal fetuses with increased nuchal translucency, assessment of ductus venosus blood flow velocimetry could improve the predictive capacity for an underlying major cardiac defect. 20 Extracardiac anomalies are more frequent in the group of fetuses with CHD.…”

“…At the beginning of 1990s, the first trimester transabdominal or transvaginal route of the assessment of fetal heart was developed in order to define fetal well-being and possible aneuploidy. 6,[16][17][18][19][20][21] An increasing rate of terminations of pregnancies will take place with the earlier diagnosis of CHD. In those who will survive, prenatal interventions will be possible in some cases while in the others, the prognosis will be improved by the early lifesaving postnatal intervention in the cardiac tertiary centers.…”