DefinitionFetal echocardiography is a test that uses sound waves (ultrasound) to evaluate the baby's heart for problems before birth. How the Test is PerformedFetal echocardiography is a test that is done while the baby is still in the womb. It is most often done during the second trimester of pregnancy. This is when a woman is about 18 to 24 weeks pregnant. The procedure is similar to that of a pregnancy ultrasound. You will lie down for the procedure. The test can be performed on your belly (abdominal ultrasound) or through your vagina (transvaginal ultrasound). In an abdominal ultrasound, the person performing the test places a clear, water-based gel on your belly. A hand-held probe is moved over the area. The probe sends out sound waves, which bounce off the baby's heart and create a picture of the heart on a computer screen. In a transvaginal ultrasound, a much smaller probe is placed into the vagina. A transvaginal ultrasound can be done earlier in the pregnancy and produces a clearer image than an abdominal ultrasound. How to Prepare for the TestNo special preparation is needed for this test. How the Test will FeelThe conducting gel may feel slightly cold and wet. You will not feel the ultrasound waves. Why the Test is PerformedThis test is done to detect a heart problem before the baby is born. It can provide a more detailed image of the baby's heart than a regular pregnancy ultrasound. The test can show:
The test may be done if:
Normal ResultsThe echocardiogram finds no problems in the unborn baby's heart. What Abnormal Results MeanAbnormal results may be due to:
The test may need to be repeated. RisksThere are no known risks to the mother or unborn baby. ConsiderationsSome heart defects cannot be seen before birth, even with fetal echocardiography. These include small holes in the heart or mild valve problems. Also, because it may not be possible to see every part of the large blood vessels leading out of the baby's heart, problems in this area may go undetected. It may still be necessary to repeat an ultrasound of the baby's heart following delivery to confirm findings seen on fetal echocardiography and evaluate areas not previously seen clearly. If the health care provider finds a problem in the structure of the heart, a detailed ultrasound may be done to look for other problems with the developing baby. ReferencesDonofrio MT, Moon-Grady AJ, Hornberger LK, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of fetal cardiac disease: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2014;129(21):2183-2242. PMID: 24763516 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24763516/. Guthrie J, Hagen-Ansert SL. Fetal echocardiography: congenital heart disease. In: Hagen-Ansert SL, ed. Textbook of Diagnostic Sonography. 9th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2023:chap 36. Stamm ER, Drose JA. The fetal heart. In: Rumack CM, Levine D, eds. Diagnostic Ultrasound. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 37. | |
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Review Date: 1/18/2023 Reviewed By: Mary J. Terrell, MD, IBCLC, Neonatologist, Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, Fayetteville, NC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. | |
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