Consequences of Fetal Cardiac Anomalies: A Two-Year Experience in a Tertiary Perinatology Center

• Published in: Clinical and experimental obstetrics & gynecology Vol. 51; no. 6; p. 136
• Main Authors: Bolluk, Gokhan, Bakirci, Isil Turan, Cok, Mehmet, Karakus, Handan Turhan, Cok, Nur Benli
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IMR Press 01-06-2024
• Subjects: congenital heart disease; fetal therapy; prenatal diagnosis
• ISSN: 0390-6663
• DOI: 10.31083/j.ceog5106136

Background: This study aimed to analyze prenatally diagnosed fetal cardiac anomaly cases in a tertiary center with respect to the incidence, type of anomalies, and rate of correct diagnosis based on postnatal diagnosis (by comparing pre- versus post-natal diagnosis). Methods: In this retrospective study, the data of 250 patients diagnosed with fetal cardiac abnormalities who were evaluated in a perinatology department between January 2021 and May 2023 were analyzed. Results: A total of 250 cases were in our study with a mean maternal age of 27.6 ± 5.1 years and a median gestational week of first assessment at our center of 27 weeks (14–39 weeks). Ventricular septal defect (37 cases, 14.8%) was the most common fetal cardiac anomaly detected prenatally in this study while corrected transposition of the great arteries (L-TGA), left ventricle hypoplasia, coarctation of aorta (CoA) and situs inversus were the least common. Termination of pregnancy was performed in 21 cases (3.1%) and 3 fetuses died antenattally during pregnancy follow-up. While genetic testing was performed in 49 cases (19.6%), chromosomal abnormalities were found in 15 cases (6%). Postnatally, a detailed follow-up was available for 141 cases (56%) and prenatal diagnosis was confirmed in 101 cases. The accuracy rate for prenatal and postnatal diagnoses was 71.63%. Conclusions: Detailed ultrasound examination of the fetal heart identifies more than 2/3 of fetuses complicated with major cardiac pathology. In addition, a systematic approach to these abnormalities aids in identifying the accurate diagnosis of isolated cardiac defects, connected with other systems or a part of a syndrome. A comprehensive examination of anatomical scans might play a crucial role in enhancing diagnostic accuracy.