What is ecocardiografía fetal?

This ultrasound imaging study, also known as a fetal cardiac ultrasound, is used to analyze the morphology and physiology of the baby’s heart and detect any anomaly or congenital heart disease before birth, being a great advantage for operating on the baby as soon as it is born, increasing its chances of survival in the event of a serious illness. 

Fetal cardiac ultrasound is usually performed for preventive purposes between weeks 20 and 26 to make sure that the heart has developed normally, has four chambers, and to rule out the presence of any congenital heart disease.

It is also recommended to perform it in the following circumstances:

• When there is family history of congenital heart disease. 
• When the mother suffers from alcoholism, drug addiction, or has taken drugs that cause heart disease.
• By identifying genetic problems in the baby.
• In case the mother suffers from phenylketonuria, lupus, diabetes, or contracted rubella during pregnancy. 
• If any previous study suggests the presence of a heart defect. 

Cardiac ultrasound is performed using a movable probe or transducer that is placed on the mother’s stomach to obtain ultrasound images of the baby’s heart.

Two different techniques are used in this test:

• Two dimensions: it is possible to observe the cardiac morphology, its movement, and functions. 
• Doppler: useful for analyzing blood circulation and its speed.

It does not cause any pain and does not represent any risk for the mother or the baby. It lasts between 40 minutes and three hours, depending on the position of the baby and the clarity of the images obtained. Results are usually delivered the same day the test is performed

Our Pediatric Heart Center is the only private center in Mexico to treat heart conditions with an exclusive unit for pediatric surgeries.

We have a group of highly trained specialists made up of pediatric cardiologists, echocardiographers, interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists, pediatric cardiovascular surgeons, pediatric cardiovascular anesthesiologists, pediatric specialists in cardiovascular intensive care, nurses, medical assistants, perfusionists, psychologists, and social workers.

Services:

• Cardiovascular surgery
• Interventional cardiology
• Pediatric echocardiography
• Fetal cardiac ultrasound
• Pediatric electrophysiology
• Fetal electrophysiology
• Cardiovascular intensive care unit
• Pediatric cardiology clinic
• Univentricular Heart Program

Related centers and departments:

• Pediatric Heart Center
• Pediatrics Center
• High Specialty Surgery Center
• Radiology and Molecular Imaging
• Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes: 

• cardiopatiascongenitas.net
• mayoclinic.org
• medlineplus.gov
• texasheart.org
• kidshealth.otg
• msdmanuals.com
• medigraphic.com
• Corona CY, García GC, Savio BA, et al. Anormalidades del tamaño del corazón fetal. Revista Cubana de Obstetricia y Ginecología. 2016;42(4):570-578.
• Iglesias-Román N, Alvarez T, Bravo C, et al. Prenatal diagnosis of fetal aortic stenosis with mitral insufficiency. Review of the ultrasound diagnosis and perinatal prognosis: A case report. Ginecol Obstet Mex. 2014;82(09):627-633.
• López BL, Fernández PZ, Barreto GV, et al. Evaluación del diagnóstico ecocardiográfico de las cardiopatías congénitas en el territorio San Antonio de los Baños, Artemisa. 2000-2009. Rev Cub Gen . 2012;6(3):10-16.
• García GC, Arencibia FJ, Hernández MY, et al. Valor de la vista ecocardiográfica de los tres vasos en el pesquisaje de cardiopatías congénitas. Rev Cub Gen . 2010;4(1):5-9.