Does Prenatal Detection of Heart Defects Make A Difference?
Ultrasound examination of the fetal heart was first reported in the early 1980’s when 2D technology allowed the examiner to identify the four-chambers of the fetal heart. Although the value of prenatal detection of heart defects was appreciated in a theoretical sense, it has only recently been realized as a benefit. The reason for this is that the ability to detect heart defects by the physician and/or sonographer has improved as the result of training and experience. Recent studies have demonstrated that prenatal diagnosis of fetuses with heart defects improves the immediate outcome following delivery because they were born at tertiary hospitals. The benefit of delivery at such facilities is that the newborn baby can be evaluated and prepared for life-saving surgery. The three types of malformations in which prenatal diagnosis has been shown to be beneficial are Coarctation of the Aorta, Hypoplastic Left Ventricle, and Transposition of the Great Arteries. Each of these defects are dis
