Objective: To investigate the application of echocardiography diagnosis of fetal cardiac structural abnormalities.
Methods: The echocardiography findings of 9 352 fetus were studied.
Results: A total of 472 cases showed cardiac structural abnormalities, including 7 cases of ventricular septal defect, 53 cases of atrioventricular septal defect, 49 cases of atrial septal defect, 26 cases of tetralogy of Fallot, 21 cases of persistent truncus arteriosus, 20 cases of Ebstein's anomaly and 206 cases of other cardiac abnormalities. There were 17 cases with cardiac arrhythmia, 9 with heart failure, and 5 with hydrops.
Conclusions: Fetal echocardiography is a promising diagnostic tool for prenatal evaluation of cardiac structural abnormalities. The echocardiography diagnosis and evaluation for fetal congenital cardiovascular malformations is the foundation of the guidance and monitoring in intrauterine fetal cardiac intervention.