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This article discusses the indications for fetal echocardiography (FE), a procedure used to detect congenital heart disease in fetuses. The authors conducted a systematic literature search to identify guidelines and expert consensuses published between 2014 and 2023. They found that there is a lack of consensus among these sources regarding the risk factors that warrant FE. While there was complete agreement on three risk factors, there were disagreements and inconsistencies for others. The authors suggest that an international agreement would be beneficial for physicians and guideline developers, and further evidence is needed to justify FE for many risk factors. [Extracted from the article]

The article presents a study which examines the anatomical features and the associations of partial atrioventricular septal defect (pAVSD) in the fetus. The study uses the data of 30 cases of pAVSD since 1996 looking at variables including indications for fetal echocardiography, diagnostic features, and chromosomal anomalies. Results of the study show that pAVSD seems to be associated with a high rate of chromosomal/non-chromosomal syndromic conditions in fetus.

The article assesses whether the use of the reconstructed en-face view with color Doppler imaging of the four cardiac values can demonstrate the different types of spatial relationship of the arterial trunks with the transposition of the great arteries (TGA) in order to derive the risk of coronary abnormalities. The information gathered may be used during counseling to predict the likelihood of abnormal coronary arterial distribution.

Objectives: To assess the reliability of two-dimensional gray-scale (2D) and color Doppler echocardiography in the study of the size and anatomy of the central pulmonary arteries and of the sources of pulmonary blood flow in a case series of fetuses with pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect (PA-VSD), and to evaluate whether the use of 4D ultrasound with B-flow imaging and spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC) can improve prenatal diagnostic accuracy. Methods: The study population comprised a group of seven PA-VSD fetuses that had been examined by 2D and color Doppler echocardiography exclusively, and a group of five additional cases identified initially by conventional echocardiography and examined further by 4D ultrasound, for all of which a thorough postnatal or autopsy study of the size and anatomy of the pulmonary arteries and blood supply was available. Results: 2D and color Doppler echocardiography failed to assess the anatomy of the central pulmonary arteries and the source of the pulmonary blood supply in 33% and 25% of the 12 cases, respectively. 4D ultrasound with B-flow imaging and STIC assessed successfully the anatomy of the pulmonary arteries and the source of pulmonary blood supply in all five fetuses examined. Conclusions: The prognosis of PA-VSD is influenced by the anatomy of the pulmonary arteries and the sources of the pulmonary blood supply, and by coexisting extracardiac and genetic anomalies. Our findings, although limited to a small sample size, suggest that 4D echocardiography with B-flow imaging and STIC, unlike 2D ultrasound, can provide thorough visualization of very small vessels and of the arterial blood supply to the lungs of fetuses with PA-VSD. 4D ultrasound may be used in the future to improve and help to detail the diagnosis of other fetal cardiac defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results 75 fetuses with conotruncal anomalies were diagnosed at early fetal echocardiography. Conclusions Conotruncal anomalies diagnosed before 16 weeks of gestation can progress in severity throughout pregnancy in over one fifth of cases. To examine the evolution of conotruncal anomalies from the initial diagnosis at early fetal echocardiography through the gestation and to evaluate the impact of the early diagnosis on the outcome of these congenital heart defects. [Extracted from the article]

An abstract of the article "Fetal echocardiography at 11-14 weeks by experienced obstetricians in a routine population during first trimester US screening for chromosomal abnormalities," by G. Rembouskos and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the article "Fetal double aortic arch: 2D and 4D echocardiography, associations and outcome," by V. De Robertis and colleagues is presented.