• An Introduction to Fetal Echocardiography(PDF file)

Source: Acuson
• Development of the Human Heart

Source: Loyola University Health System
• Fetal Cardiac Dimensions Calculator

Source: University of Pennsylvania
• Fetal Echocardiography Discussion Forum

Source: University of Pennsylvania
• Indications for Fetal Echocardiography

Source: American College of Cardiology
• Cardiovascular

Source: TheFetus.net
• Respiratory system

Source: TheFetus.net
• Syndromes Associated With Congenital Heart Disease And Ultrasound Findings

Source: GE Medical Systems

     Terminology

Cardiac Axis
The cardiac axis describes the orientation of the apex of the heart within the thorax.
Terms used to describe cardiac axis orientation:

• Levocardia: The cardiac apex points to the left (normal)

Greater than 57 degrees of leftward axis deviation may be considered abnormal.
• Mesocardia: The cardiac apex points to the midline
• Dextrocardia: The cardiac apex points to the right

Cardiac Positon
Cardiac position describes the location of the heart within the thorax.
Terms used to describe cardiac podition:

• Levoposition: The heart is in the left thorax.
• Dextroposition:The heart is in the right thorax.

   The Normal Heart

• Axis and Position

The cardiac axis should normally intersect the midline at 45 degrees with the
apex of the heart pointing to the left.
Abnormal deviation of the cardiac axis is associated with congenital heart disease.
The heart should be located in the left hemithorax.
Abnormal cardiac position is associated with extracardiac malformations
• Diagram: Normal cardiac axis and position

• The ventricular septum should be intact.
• The right and left atria should be the same size, and the right and left ventricles
   should be the same size.
• Image: Four chamber view

Source:University of Pennsylvania
• Image: "Five" chamber view (long axis view of aorta)
• The ascending aorta should show continuity with the mitral valve poseriorly with the ventricular septum anterior.
• Image: Left ventricular outflow tract

Source:University of Pennsylvania
• The pulmonary artery should exit the anterior ventricle and bifurcate.
• Image: Short Axis View of Great Vessels

Source:University of Pennsylvania
• The mitral and tricuspid valves should move freely.
• Image:Normal Mitral Inflow

Source:University of Pennsylvania
• Image:Normal Tricuspid Inflow

Source:University of Pennsylvania
• The foramen ovale should flap into left atrium.
• The aorta should exit from the posterior ventricle.Three head and neck vessels should branch from aorta.
• Image:Aortic Arch

Source:University of Pennsylvania
• The ductus arteriosus should be in continuity with the descending aorta.
• Image:Ductal Arch

Source:University of Pennsylvania

Aortic Stenosis

• Patient Information

Source:American American Heart Association
• Search Literature

Asplenia-Polysplenia Syndromes
• Information and Sonogram(s)

Source:TheFetus.net
• Search Literature

Atrial Septal Defects
• Information

Source:OMIM
• Patient Information

Source:American American Heart Association
• Diagram(s)

Source:Loyola University Health System
• Sonogram

Source:The University of Kansas Medical Center
• Search Literature

Atrioventricular Canal Defect
• Information

Source:OMIM
• Patient Information

Source:American American Heart Association
• Diagram(s)

Source:Loyola University Health System
• Sonogram

Source:The University of Kansas Medical Center
• Search Literature

Coarctation of the Aorta
• Information

Source:OMIM
• Patient Information

Source:American American Heart Association
• Information and Radiographs

Source:Brigham and Women's Hospital
• Sonogram

Source:The University of Kansas Medical Center
• QuickTime Movie

Source:The University of Kansas Medical Center
• Search Literature

Double Outlet Right Ventricle
• Patient Information

Source:PediHeart
• QuickTime Movie

Source:The University of Kansas Medical Center
• Search Literature

Ebstein's Anomaly
• OMIM

Source:OMIM
• Information and Sonogram(s)

Source:TheFetus.net
• Sonogram(s) and Radiograph(s)

Source:Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
• Sonogram(s)

Source:The University of Kansas Medical Center
• Search Literature

Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
• Information

Source:OMIM
• Information and Sonogram(s)

Source:TheFetus.net
• Sonogram(s)

Source:University of Pennsylvania
• QuickTime Movie

Source:The University of Kansas Medical Center
• Patient Information

Source:American American Heart Association
• Search Literature

Hypoplastic Right Heart
• Information

Source:OMIM
• Sonograms

Source:University of Pennsylvania
• Search Literature

Pentalogy of Cantrell
• Information and Sonogram(s)

Source:TheFetus.net
• Search Literature

Pulmonary Valve Atresia
• Information and Sonograms

Source:OBGYN.net
• Information and Sonogram(s)

Source:TheFetus.net
• Patient Information

Source:American American Heart Association
• Search Literature

Pulmonary Stenosis (PS)
• Patient Information

Source:American American Heart Association
• Search Literature

Rhabdomyoma
• Information and Sonogram(s)

Source:TheFetus.net
• Case Study

Source:The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
• Search Literature

Tetralogy of Fallot
• Information

Source:OMIM
• Patient Information

Source:American American Heart Association
• Diagram(s)

Source:Loyola University Health System
• Sonogram(s)

Source:University of Pennsylvania
• Information and Sonogram(s)

Source:TheFetus.net
• Search Literature

Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection
• Patient Information

Source:American American Heart Association
• Search Literature

Transposition of the Great Vessels
• Patient Information

Source:American American Heart Association
• Information and Sonogram(s)

Source:TheFetus.net
• Diagram(s)

Source:Loyola University Health System
• QuickTime Movie

Source:The University of Kansas Medical Center
• Search Literature

Tricuspid Atresia
• Patient Information

Source:American American Heart Association
• Search Literature

Truncus Arteriosus
• Information

Source:OMIM
• Patient Information

Source:American American Heart Association
• Information and Sonogram(s)

Source:TheFetus.net
• QuickTime Movie

Source:The University of Kansas Medical Center
• Search Literature

Univentricular Heart
• OMIM

Source:OMIM
• Information and Sonogram(s)

Source:TheFetus.net
• Search Literature
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Ventricular Septal Defect
• Patient Information

Source:American American Heart Association
• Diagrams

Source:Loyola University Health System
• QuickTime Movie

Source:The University of Kansas Medical Center
• Search Literature

Arrhythmia
• Diagnosis, Management and Outcome of Congenital Atrio-Ventricular Block

Source:Frontiers in Fetal Health
• Postnatal Outcome of Fetal Bradycardia Without Significant Cardiac Abnormalities
  Source: Medscape
• Supraventricular Tachycardia

Source:TheFetus.net
• Search Literature

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
• Information

Source:OMIM
• Information and Image(s)

Source:University of Iowa
• Information and Image(s)

Source:Contemporary Ob/Gyn 2002;2:39-52.
• Sonogram(s)

Source:University of Pennsylvania
• Search Literature
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Congenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation (CCAM)
• Information and Sonogram(s)

Source:TheFetus.net
• Sonogram(s)

Source:University of Pennsylvania
• Search Literature
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Eventration of the Diaphragm
• Synopsis

Source:PedBase
• Search Literature
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Extralobar intrathoracic sequestration
• Information and Sonogram(s)

Source:TheFetus.net
• Search Literature
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Pleural effusions
• Information and Sonogram(s)

Source:TheFetus.net
• Search Literature