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Original ArticleOpen Access
Some Aspects of Fetal Echocardiogram : 12 Years of Experience
Jamjureeruk V 
Fetal echocardiogram is a reliable tool for prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease. It is
an important adjunction to obstetrical ultrasonography in caring for women during pregnancy. With
improvement in resolution of 2-D echo images as well as the addition of parameter software, fetal
echocardiography has found ever-expanding applications in both the structural and functional assess-
ment of the fetal cardiovascular system.
From the author's 12 years experience in fetal echocardiogram, 1,000 fetal hearts were studied
and I2 cases had congenital heart defects (CHD): 4 ventricular septal defects, I Ebstein's anomaly, I
Tetralogy of cantrell, I single atrium and single ventricle, I Hypoplastic left heart syndrome, 2 abnormal
tricuspid valve with tricuspid regurgitation, l calcification RV, LV and interventricular septum with
hydrops fetalis. Three hydrops fetal is were of unknown cause.
Fetal heart size was evaluated by comparing the heart area/size with the chest area/size. The
ventricular dimension was assessed by M-mode and 2-D echo, The ventricular volume could be mea-
sured by 2-D echo with a special formula. Evaluation of ventricular function was important and could be
evaluated by M-mode, 2-D echo and Tissue Doppler Image (TDI). Pulsed Doppler and Doppler Colour
Flow Image gave more information about the hemodynamics.
The assessment of the foramen ovale, ductus venous, ductus arteriosus arteries including the
umbilical artery and vein were also important and would be abnormal if the fetal heart had ventricular
dysfunction and congestive heart failure. The fetal echocardiographic findings will help the obstetri-
cian for further investigation and/or treatment including termination of pregnancy.
The author would like to recommend that fetal echocardiogram be performed in all pregnant
women at 18-22 weeks of gestation. The incidence of CHD in low risk pregnancy is as significant a
finding as in high-risk pregnancy.
Key word : Fetal Echocardiogram, Tissue Doppler Image, Myocardial Velocities
an important adjunction to obstetrical ultrasonography in caring for women during pregnancy. With
improvement in resolution of 2-D echo images as well as the addition of parameter software, fetal
echocardiography has found ever-expanding applications in both the structural and functional assess-
ment of the fetal cardiovascular system.
From the author's 12 years experience in fetal echocardiogram, 1,000 fetal hearts were studied
and I2 cases had congenital heart defects (CHD): 4 ventricular septal defects, I Ebstein's anomaly, I
Tetralogy of cantrell, I single atrium and single ventricle, I Hypoplastic left heart syndrome, 2 abnormal
tricuspid valve with tricuspid regurgitation, l calcification RV, LV and interventricular septum with
hydrops fetalis. Three hydrops fetal is were of unknown cause.
Fetal heart size was evaluated by comparing the heart area/size with the chest area/size. The
ventricular dimension was assessed by M-mode and 2-D echo, The ventricular volume could be mea-
sured by 2-D echo with a special formula. Evaluation of ventricular function was important and could be
evaluated by M-mode, 2-D echo and Tissue Doppler Image (TDI). Pulsed Doppler and Doppler Colour
Flow Image gave more information about the hemodynamics.
The assessment of the foramen ovale, ductus venous, ductus arteriosus arteries including the
umbilical artery and vein were also important and would be abnormal if the fetal heart had ventricular
dysfunction and congestive heart failure. The fetal echocardiographic findings will help the obstetri-
cian for further investigation and/or treatment including termination of pregnancy.
The author would like to recommend that fetal echocardiogram be performed in all pregnant
women at 18-22 weeks of gestation. The incidence of CHD in low risk pregnancy is as significant a
finding as in high-risk pregnancy.
Key word : Fetal Echocardiogram, Tissue Doppler Image, Myocardial Velocities
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