This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cartier, M. S. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

The Fetal Heart

Basic Evaluation during an Obstetric Ultrasound Examination

Department of Ultrasound; Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Radiology, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115.

The purpose of this article is to inform the sonographer about how to evaluate the normal fetal heart during routine obstetric examinations. With basic knowledge of how the fetal heart should appear, a sonographer can perform an adequate basic examination in a short period of time, depending on experience. The ventricles, atria, atrioventricular valves, pulmonary artery, aortas, and semilunar valves should be identified in a normal basic evaluation. Their sizes and relationships to each other must be distinguished and may be compared with normal values already established and documented. Techniques on how to identify the structures of the fetal heart when the fetus is in various positions will give the sonographer guidance in establishing the views needed to evaluate the normal heart in fetuses beyond 16 weeks' gestation. With adequate knowledge of normal anatomy and circulation, anomalies may be detected and a more detailed cardiac study can be recommended. Accurate antenatal diagnosis may lead to better perinatal management.

Key Words: ventricle • atria • aorta • pulmonary artery • semilunar valves • atrioventricular valves • ductus arteriosus • ultrasound • fetal echocardiography

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?