What is cardiac anomaly scan?

The cardiac scan examines how the blood is flowing through your baby’s arteries and veins. It also checks on the structure and function of the heart. The scan also looks out for abnormalities such as: Holes in the heart.

How early can CHD be detected on ultrasound?

Congenital heart disease may initially be suspected during a routine ultrasound scan of the baby in the womb. Specialist ultrasound, called foetal echocardiography, will then be carried out at around 18 to 22 weeks of the pregnancy to try to confirm the exact diagnosis.

What is fetal echo scan?

Fetal echocardiography is a test similar to an ultrasound. This exam allows your doctor to better see the structure and function of your unborn child’s heart. It’s typically done in the second trimester, between weeks 18 to 24. The exam uses sound waves that “echo” off the structures of the fetus’s heart.

What are the guidelines for fetal cardiac scan?

Medical society guidelines for performance of obstetric US now mandate evaluation of the four-chamber view of the heart and the cardiac outflow tracts in all second- and third-trimester obstetric scans.

How is 3D ultrasound used in fetal echocardiography?

Recent advances in the technology of 3D/4D ultrasound systems allow almost real‐time 3D/4D fetal heart scans. It appears that 3D/4D ultrasound in fetal echocardiography may make a significant contribution to interdisciplinary management team consultation, health delivery systems, parental counseling, and professional training.

When to use harmonic imaging for fetal scan?

Harmonic imaging may provide improved images, especially for patients with increased maternal abdominal wall thickness during the third trimester of pregnancy 37 . Cross-sectional gray-scale imaging is still the basis of a reliable fetal cardiac scan. System settings should emphasize a high frame rate, with increased contrast and high resolution.

Which is the standard view of the fetal heart?

The standard four-chamber view of the fetal heart is an axial image through the chest, similar to a chest computed tomography (CT) scan or axial images in cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) imaging studies.