Now in Smile, Fetal Echocardiogram!

Fetal echocardiography is an imaging exam that uses high-frequency sound waves, performed by a non-invasive ultrasound method performed on the abdomen of the pregnant woman, for morphological and functional intrauterine assessment of the heart (heart formation and fetal circulation) of the baby. Congenital heart diseases are the malformations most often related to childhood morbidity and mortality.

Is it normal for the doctor to order a fetal echocardiogram?
According to data from the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics, of the 52% of deaths in early childhood in the world (0 to 365 days of life), heart disease is responsible for 40% of birth defects, being one of the most frequent malformations and the one with the highest mortality. About 20% of neonatal deaths result from these conditions and more than 90% of them occur in fetuses without risk factors for malformations. Its incidence has been estimated at 6 to 12 cases per 1,000 births. Thus, the fetal heart should routinely undergo a basic analysis by obstetric ultrasound, which serves as a screening test for complete fetal echocardiography. 

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Diagnosis
When the diagnosis is made during pregnancy, counseling and delivery planning is possible in a specialized referral center, improving the newborns' chance of survival. Nowadays, most babies with heart disease are still born without diagnosis in all parts of the world, and the cardiac alteration is not detected by screening at the time of morphological ultrasound. 

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What is the fetal echocardiogram used for?
It serves to assess the functioning of the heart, the health of the baby's heart, and identify diseases even before the baby is born.  

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How is fetal echocardiography performed?
Fetal echocardiography is performed in a similar way to ultrasound, however, only the baby's heart structures are visualized, through records of the muscles, valves, arteries and cardiac veins.

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When should fetal echocardiography be performed?
Echocardiography may be performed in the first trimester. Dr. Felipe explains that the exam is recommended from the 18th week and until close to the moment of delivery and is ideal between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy. High-risk pregnant women have a medical recommendation to take the exam at 14 weeks.