2024 Fetal Echocardiography Normal and Abnormal Hearts

The CME Activity provides detailed information on the evaluation of the normal fetal heart both from an anatomic and functional approach. Detailed information on the use of three-dimensional ultrasound in fetal echocardiography and cardiac imaging in the early gestation is included. The activity also provides a comprehensive evaluation of various cardiac malformations, involving abnormalities of the cardiac chambers and the outflow tracts. This activity provides a broad review and dialogue on fetal echocardiography and should be extremely helpful to physicians and sonographers involved in prenatal diagnosis and in caring for children born with congenital heart disease.

This course will greatly benefit physicians and sonographers in the fields of obstetric imaging, fetal echocardiography and pediatric cardiology. Residents in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as fellows in maternal fetal medicine and pediatric cardiology, will also benefit greatly. It should also prove valuable to those physicians and sonographers wanting to gain a more in-depth knowledge of fetal echocardiography.

At the completion of this CME teaching activity, you should be able to:

• Discuss indications for fetal echocardiography, review existing guidelines and the approach to patient counseling.
• Optimize ultrasound equipment for the use of 2D and Doppler in fetal echocardiography.
• Review the normal fetal cardiac anatomy.
• Describe the abnormalities of the venous system of the fetal heart.
• Discuss in detail anomalies of the cardiac chambers to include septal defects and anomalies of the right and left ventricle.
• Review in detail anomalies of the outflow tracts to include transposition of great arteries, tetralogy of Fallot complex and aortic arch abnormalities.