Perinatal management of fetal cardiac anomalies in a specialized obstetric-pediatrics center

Am J Perinatol. 2001 Nov;18(7):363-71. doi: 10.1055/s-2001-18696.

Abstract

Perinatal teams dealing with fetal heart disease frequently wonder which pregnancies might be terminated, and when delivery should take place in a specialized surrounding. We present a retrospective study of 229 fetuses, in which prenatal ultrasound showed a cardiac anomaly not compatible with a standard maternity ward delivery. One hundred nineteen pregnancies were terminated (group I) while 110 pregnancies led to the birth of a live baby (group II). Pathology in group I was discovered earlier than in group II (24 vs. 29.3 weeks' gestation; p <0.01), and associated malformations or chromosomal anomalies were much more frequent in group I (80/119 vs. 9/110; p <0.001). Among live born babies, three infants with transposition of the great arteries underwent Rashkind atrioseptostomy in the delivery room. With a minimum follow-up of 12 months, 69 children (63%) have undergone surgery. Among 92 survivors (1 child is lost to follow-up), 78 (71%) are asymptomatic and 14 symptomatic. Early prenatal diagnosis of fetal heart anomalies significantly facilitates prenatal work-up and perinatal care. We present the types of pathology having led to termination and define the situations in which children are at risk of perinatal hemodynamic compromise.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Eugenic / statistics & numerical data*
  • Chromosome Aberrations / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • France
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / classification
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital / organization & administration*
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital / statistics & numerical data
  • Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care
  • Perinatal Care / organization & administration*
  • Perinatology / statistics & numerical data
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Diagnosis / methods
  • Program Evaluation
  • Referral and Consultation / statistics & numerical data
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Ultrasonography