Cardiac disease in pregnancy echocardiography

Overview
Echocardiograhy does not carry the risk of fetal irradiation; hence, is a safe and preferred screening method to assess cardiac function and valvular lesions.

Maternal Echocardiographic Findings

 * There is a progressive increase in chamber dimension with:
 * ~20% increase in the size of the right atrium and the right ventricle,
 * ~12% increase in left atrial size, and
 * ~6% increase in left ventricular size.


 * Following delivery, the above changes gradually return to pre-gestational baseline.


 * In addition, there is early and progressive dilation of the mitral, tricuspid, and pulmonary annuli which is associated with an increase in valvular regurgitation.

Fetal Echocardiography
Fetal echocardiography is 96% sensitive in detecting major structural malformations (72/74 abnormalities identified among 1,022 fetuses) and is useful for genetics counseling and management during pregnancy and postpartum.

Indications:

 * Pregnant women at high-risk for structural heart disease with:
 * History of congenital heart disease themselves or in previous children.
 * Presence of diabetes or collagen vascular disease- predisposing factor for congenital heart disease.


 * History of a fetal arrhythmia
 * Consumption of teratogens