Pre-procedure safety check
Formal and clearly documented safety checks and briefings are mandatory and essential if you want to reduce predictable and preventable errors during procedures. It has been clearly demonstrated that safety…
Planning safe procedures
Making the correct treatment plan This chapter focuses on steps you should take to minimize risk and prepare yourself and the patient for successful and safe procedures. You may be…
Arrhythmias in the Fetus
Introduction Disturbances of cardiac rhythm in the human fetus may come to clinical attention in a number of ways. First, an abnormally slow, fast, or irregular heart rate may be…
Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome
Key Echocardiographic Features • Monochorionic pregnancy with size discrepancy between twins. • For the smaller donor, heart function appears ostensibly normal with small ventricular cavity volumes and hyperdynamic systolic function….
Sacrococcygeal Teratoma
Key Echocardiographic Features • Look for signs of fetal hydrops such as pericardial effusion, pleural effusion, ascites, or scalp edema. • Assess heart size through cardiothoracic ratio measures. • Evaluate…
Anatomical and Functional Fetal Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging: An Emerging Technology
Why Apply Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging to the Fetus: Is there a Need for Another Imaging Modality? Assessment of fetal cardiac anatomy and function is an important component of the…
Agenesis of the Ductus Venosus
Key Echocardiographic Features • Trace and identify the insertion of the umbilical vein into the fetus and follow its course to the heart. • Determine whether the umbilical vein connects…
Congenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation
Key Echocardiographic Features • Compression of the heart, with small cardiothoracic ratio. • Abnormal position of the heart within the chest. • Distortion of the inferior vena cava as it…
Fetal Cardiomyopathy
Key Echocardiographic Features • Investigate for heart size (cardiothoracic ratio). • Investigate systolic function, qualitative and quantitative (myocardial performance index, shortening fraction). • Look for evidence of pericardial effusion or…
Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation
Key Echocardiographic Features • Enlarged heart, but with relatively preserved systolic function. • No other obvious explanation as to why the heart is enlarged. • Both right and left side…
