Fetal Echocardiography

Detailed examination of the fetal heart is performed by a consultant fetal cardiologist.

Some groups of pregnant women are recognised to be at increased risk for heart problems in their fetus.

These groups include:

• Family history of congenital heart disease
• Increased nuchal translucency above the 95th centile
• Maternal diabetes mellitus
• Mothers taking teratogenic drugs, i.e. anticonvulsants
• Abnormal or sub-optimal cardiac views on a routine anomaly scan.

Parents may value fetal echocardiography to provide reassurance of normality even in the absence of other risk factors.

Scans are usually performed at 18-23 weeks gestation, but can be undertaken from as early as 14 weeks gestation if required.

If an abnormality is found, parents will receive a detailed explanation and prognosis of the cardiac condition and further investigation and management will be planned as appropriate.