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Objective: To investigate the criteria, based on fetal TR waveforms in late gestation, to predict biventricular circulation (BV) after birth in cases of tricuspid valve dysplasia (TVD) or Ebstein's anomaly diagnosed during the fetal period. Methods: We included 35 consecutive cases diagnosed with TVD or Ebstein's anomaly during the fetal period between January 2008 and December 2021 at Kanagawa Children's Medical Center, Kanagawa, Japan. The maximum velocity and change in pressure over time of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) jet (dP/dt), estimated using TR waveforms obtained during the late‐gestation period (gestational age ≥ 28 weeks), were collected from patient records. dP/dt was calculated by dividing the change in estimated right ventricular pressure obtained using Bernoulli's principle by the time taken for the TR maximum velocity to change from one‐third to two‐thirds of its peak value. The outcome was divided into four categories: BV, single ventricular circulation, neonatal death and fetal death. Patients with BV were included in the BV group, while patients with single ventricular circulation, neonatal death or fetal death were included in the non‐BV (NBV) group. Results: Overall, 19 and 16 patients were included in the BV and NBV groups, respectively. The median TR maximum velocity was 3.3 (range, 2.4–3.6) m/s in the BV group and 1.9 (range, 1.0–3.3) m/s in the NBV group. There were no cases of postnatal BV in fetuses with TR maximum velocity < 2.4 m/s; cases with TR maximum velocity of 2.4–3.3 m/s were observed in both BV and NBV groups. Receiver‐operating‐characteristics‐curve analysis was performed on the 11 patients in the BV group and five patients in the NBV group with a TR maximum velocity of 2.4–3.3 m/s. dP/dt ≥ 350 mmHg/s and TR maximum velocity ≥ 2.9 m/s were identified as criteria for predicting the outcome in such cases. The performance of dP/dt ≥ 350 mmHg/s in predicting BV after birth in fetuses with TVD or Ebstein's anomaly was higher compared to that of TR maximum velocity ≥ 2.9 m/s (sensitivity, 90.9% vs 72.3% and specificity, 80.0% vs 80.0%, respectively). Conclusions: In fetuses with TVD or Ebstein's anomaly, the postnatal outcome may be BV or NBV when the TR maximum velocity is 2.4–3.3 m/s. In such cases, by combining the TR maximum velocity with dP/dt ≥ 350 mmHg/s, BV after birth may be predicted with greater accuracy. © 2022 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective . The objective of our paper is to show that the spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC) and tomographic ultrasound imaging (TUI) is very convenient and helpful for the fetal screening of complex congenital heart defects (CHD). Methods . Ultrasound examinations were performed using a Voluson 730 EXPERT or PRO system (GE Medical system, Kretztechnik, Zipf, Austria), and the transabdominal probe (RAB 4–8 MHz or 1–5 MHz) was used to acquire the STIC volumes. Various complex CHD including heterotaxia, ventricular septal defect (VSD), atrio-ventricular septal defect (AVSD), tetralogy of fallot (TOF), transposition of great artery (TGA), hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) were examined between 20 weeks and 35 weeks. After routine cardiac screening and examination by two-dimensional ultrasound, three- and four-dimensional ultrasound were performed by gray-scaled and color flow mapping. After the examination detailed analysis of CHD were performed by STIC and TUI. Results . In the case of heterotaxia, STIC and TUI was useful for the detection of stomach and cardiac apex in the different slices. In the case of VSD and AVSD, they were useful for the exact determination of septal defect location. In the cases of TOF, TGA and HLHS, they were helpful for observation of outflow tract and exact diagnosis. Conclusion . In the screening of complex CHD including heterotaxia, VSD, AVSD, TOF, TGA and HLHS, STIC is very useful and powerful tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The North Japan fetal Echocardiography remote seminar began for the purpose of the spread of fetal heart screening and correction of the regional disparity. The investigation method transmitted a questionnaire by an email and had you reply after having replied it. When there was the rise in fetus heart screening rate of Miyagi for the past 10 years, as a result of the remote seminar, Takashi Tanaka MD reports it. [Extracted from the article]

Left pulmonary artery (LPA) sling is a very rare anomaly in which the LPA arises distally, far from the right pulmonary artery on the right side of the distal trachea, turns sharply leftwards around the trachea and courses to the left lung hilum through the space between the trachea and esophagus. LPA sling is often associated with distal tracheal narrowing, due to either intrinsic stenosis or secondary compression by the anomaly itself. To our knowledge, prenatal diagnosis of LPA sling has not been reported so far. We report a case in which LPA sling was diagnosed during fetal ultrasound examination. Copyright © 2011 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Trial of a remote hands-on training seminar for fetal echocardiography using the Vidyo system," by K. Kubonoya, C. Tagata, and M. Kawataki is presented.

An abstract of the article "Outcomes and issues related to the introduction of a screening system for severe heart disease" by K. Imamura and M. Kawataki is presented.