References
Association of abnormal fetal echocardiography with some obstetric records
Abstract
Background
To evaluate the history of some obstetrical records of pregnant women who were referred for fetal echocardiography for any reason.
Methods
This was a retrospective study on 1772 documents of referred pregnant women, which was conducted in Narges diagnostic clinic staff (Ahvaz city, Iran) from 2017-2020. In this study, all document data of pregnant women who referred for fetal echocardiography for any reason have been reviewed.
Results
Our study showed that there is a significant relationship between abnormal fetal echocardiography with history of miscarriage, stillbirth and a previous child with Down syndrome.
Conclusion
Although our study showed that abnormal fetal echocardiography was associated with stillbirth, miscarriage, and a history of having a previous child with Down syndrome, but many cases had abnormal echocardiography didn't have a history of having a previous child with CHD, increased NT and high-risk aneuploidy screening test.
General antepartum obstetrical ultrasound has become a standard part of gestational care and is commonly used for the determination of fetal age, size, gender, or wellbeing, and for the detection of congenital anomalies (Bhat et al, 2004; Davey et al, 2009). To date, almost every structural congenital heart disease (CHD) described in postnatal life has been detected in utero by fetal cardiac ultrasound (Garne et al, 2001). Although most major anomalies of the heart can be identified at 18–22 weeks of gestation by fetal echocardiography, these defects are usually missing during routine antenatal scanning (Finch et al, 2006; El Guindi et al, 2013). Therefore, paying attention to high-risk and influencing factors on CHD can be very helpful in timely diagnosis.
A variety of maternal or fetal disorders may result in abnormality of the fetal cardiovascular system to a degree which demands evaluation at a level above and beyond that attainable with standard antepartum obstetrical ultrasound. In these circumstances, a fetal echocardiography should be performed (Bhat et al, 2004; Davey et al, 2009).
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