Effect of fetal echocardiography on postnatal survival: Single center 2 years experience

Abstract

Aim: Cardiac anomalies occur in about 1% of newborns and form the most common group of congenital anomalies. Congenital heart diseases (CHDs)are the most common cause of early neonatal deaths due to congenital anomalies. Methods: A total of 152 pregnant women who referred for fetal echocardiographic evaluation between 2014 and 2016 were reviewed retrospectively from the pediatric cardiology outpatient clinic records. Results: Sixteen pregnancies were diagnosed with complex CHD. For all fetuses diagnosed with complex CHD, and scheduled for intervention and surgery the families and the congenital heart intervention center that will performed the interventions for fetuses were interviewed during prenatal period, and the delivery was coordinated with a multidisciplinary approach. Sixteen fetuses were diagnosed with 4 had aortic coarctation (n=4), tetralogy of Fallot (n=5), Fallot tetralogy without pulmonary valve (n=1), hypoplastic left heart syndrome (n=2), transposition of great arteries (n=2), and double-inlet left ventricle (n=2). In our study, all of the patients who needed postpartum emergency interventional treatment were planned, and the center was set up during the prenatal period, then the patients were referred by starting PGE1 treatment during the postnatal period. The fetuses that may need urgent intervention in the delivery room were directed to the center during the prenatal period. No hemodynamic instability occurred in patients during and after birth. Conclusion: The prenatal diagnosis of CHD and postnatal risk determination, can reduce the neoanatal mortality significantly because it allows the interventional treatment to be coordinated with the center. © 2018, Logos Medical Publishing. All rights reserved.