**Part 3**

**Fetal Imagine Techniques** 

144 Echocardiography – New Techniques

Shishido, T., Beppu, S., Matsuda, H., Yutani, C. & Miyatake, K. (1997) Extension of

Wei, K., Jayaweera, A.R., Firoozan, S., Linka, A., Skyba, D.M. & Kaul, S. (1998)

1997), pp. 585-591, ISBN0735-1097

(Feb, 1998), pp. 473-483, ISBN0009-7322

hemorrhage after reperfusion of occluded coronary artery: contrast echocardiographic assessment in dogs. *J. Am. Coll. Cardiol.*, Vol.30, No.2, (Aug,

Quantification of myocardial blood flow with ultrasound-induced destruction of microbubbles administered as a constant venous infusion. *Circulation*, Vol.97, No.5,

**9** 

*Turkey* 

**Fetal Echocardiography** 

*Samsun Education and Training Hospital Department of* 

This is a test using sound waves to show the structure of an unborn baby's heart. An obstetrician may get a limited view of a baby's heart during a routine pregnancy ultrasound. However, a specialist in fetal echocardiography can study a baby's heart in great detail using a fetal echocardiogram.Some pregnant women are at higher risk of giving birth to a baby with a heart defect. They should be considered for referral for a specialized fetal echocardiogram. The ultrasound scanning may be done through the vagina or through the

Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect, occurring at a rate of 8/1,000 births.Because there are many different types of heart defects, ranging from minor to lifethreatening problems, examination of the fetal heart before birth has been mandated as a requirement when examining a fetus between 15 and 40 weeks of pregnancy. This has been called the Standard ultrasound evaluation of the heart and has been defined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, and the American College of Radiology.In Los Angeles it has been estimated that less than 10% of serious heart defects are detected before birth when the examination is performed by an obstetrician or radiologist who does not have special training evaluating the fetal heart. Fetal Echocardiography is a more comprehensive examination of the fetal heart than the standard examination and includes identification of additional cardiac structures not defined in the standard evaluation. The physician who performs Fetal Echocardiography often uses color Doppler ultrasound and may utilize pulsed Doppler, 3D, and 4D ultrasound; depending upon the circumstances of the examination. Fetal Echocardiography is an important part of Genetic Ultrasound, a new test that identifies over 95% of fetuses with Down syndrome when performed during the second-trimester of

Fetal echocardiography is the primary diagnostic tool used to assess fetal cardiac structure and function.This is a specialized sonogram that is a certainly indicated when there is an increased risk of fetal cardiac abnormalites,and is usually performed at 18-22 weeks gestation.when the risk of a fetal cardiac anomaly is particularly high, an earlier evaluation,at around 13-15 weeks, by either transabdominal or vaginal sonography, may be considered, as many caardiac anomalies are already demonstrable at this stage.this early examination should, however, be corroborated by a repeat evaluation around mid-gestation.

abdomen. There are no known risks to the mother or fetus.

**1. Introduction** 

pregnancy.

Ahmet Cantug Caliskan

*Obstetrics and Gynecology Samsun* 
