Fetal echocardiography: are we getting it right?

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of prenatal fetal echocardiography. METHODS: The study was a retrospective chart review of 190 consecutive patients over a 3-year period from November 1998 to February 2002 of all women referred to the Maternal Fetal Medicine unit, Mater Mothers Hospital, for fetal echocardiography. The prenatal diagnosis was compared with the postnatal diagnosis made by postnatal echocardiography, surgical findings or post-mortem. The accuracy of prenatal diagnosis was described on a predetermined 4-point scale. RESULTS: Of the 89 patients, for whom complete diagnostic follow-up was available, there was complete agreement between the prenatal and postnatal dia..