Echocardiography performed by the neonatologist: the impact on the clinical management.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess whether neonatologist-performed echocardiography (NPE) changed the previously planned hemodynamic approach in critically ill newborn infants.

Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study included the first NPE of 199 neonates. Before the exam, the clinical team was asked about the planned hemodynamic approach and the answer was classified as an intention to change or not to change the therapy.

Neonatal performed echocardiography course: Can we face it?

Objective: To evaluate students' qualification after a six-month basic course of Neonatal Performed Echocardiography (NPEcho), adjusted by the motivational profile.

Study Design: Prospective cohort of 16 neonatologists/neonatal fellows who underwent the basic NPEcho course in 2019 (18 h face-to-face theoretical classes; 36 h hands-on training) and 12 in 2020 (18 h online theoretical classes; 36 h hands-on training). Students' qualification was defined as ≥70% in post-test, video test, and practical evaluation in neonates.

Functional echocardiography training in the neonatal intensive care unit: comparing measurements and results with the pediatric cardiologist.

Objectives: Functional echocardiography is a valuable tool in the neonatal intensive care unit, but training programs are not standardized. The aim was to report an functional echocardiography training program for neonatologists and to describe the agreement of their measurements with the pediatric cardiologist.

Methods: Functional echocardiography training lasted 32h.

Assessment of modified myocardial performance index in foetuses with growth restriction.

Aim: To evaluate the modified myocardial performance index (Mod-MPI) in foetuses with growth restriction and compare this index with appropriate for gestational age foetuses.

Material And Methods: A prospective cross-sectional case-control study was conducted involving 76 singleton foetuses between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation divided into three groups (24 appropriate growth foetuses, 30 foetuses with estimated weight between the 3rd and 10th percentiles and 22 foetuses with estimated weight < 3rd percentile, according to the Hadlock table). The Mod-MPI was obtained in the plane of the four chamber view, and the spectral Doppler sample volume was placed in the lateral wall of the aorta, close to the mitral valve.

Reference curve of the fetal ventricular septum area by the STIC method: preliminary study.

Background: Early detection of septal changes such as septal hypertrophy commonly present in fetuses of diabetic mothers would help reduce the high rates of infant mortality.

Objective: Determine reference ranges for the fetal ventricular septal area through three-dimensional ultrasound (US3D) using the STIC method (Spatio-Temporal Image Correlation).

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 69 pregnant women between the 18th and 33rd weeks of pregnancy.

[Assessment of the fetal mitral and tricuspid valves areas development by three-dimensional ultrasonography].

Purpose: to evaluate the areas of the atrioventricular valves (tricuspid and mitral) of normal fetuses by the use of three-dimensional ultrasound (3DUS) and the spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) method.

Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted on 141 women between the 18th and the 33rd week of pregnancy. Cardiac volumes were measured with a volumetric transabdominal transducer attached to the Voluson 730 Expert equipment.

Fetal cardiac function assessed by spatio-temporal image correlation.

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) and four-dimensional (4D) ultrasound have been proposed to be valuable tools for the examination of fetal heart. Spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC) is a technique that adds a time component to 3D ultrasound imaging of the fetal heart, so we can evaluate cardiac structures as a 4D cine sequence containing information of one full cardiac cycle. STIC gives the investigator the opportunity to freeze the displayed cardiac loop in end-diastolic and end-systolic phases.

Perinatal diagnosis of heart defects.

Importance Of The Field: Heart defects are the most frequent congenital malformations, affecting 8 in every 1000 neonates. As 90% of infants born with a congenital heart defects (CHD) have no known risk factor, screening for heart defects in every routine obstetric ultrasound is essential for antenatal diagnosis.

Areas Covered In This Review: Two-dimensional echocardiography allied with three- and four-dimensional technologies such as spatio-temporal image correlation offer means for thoroughly evaluating fetal cardiac anatomy.

The role of nuchal translucency in the screening for congenital heart defects.

Objective: Assess the accuracy of the nuchal translucency (NT) measurement between 11 and 13 weeks and 6 days of gestation as a sonographic marker to screen for congenital heart defects (CHD).

Methods: This is a multi-center retrospective study in which singleton gestations of euploid fetuses were analyzed. NT measurement was performed in the first trimester examination when the fetal crown-rump length (CRL) was 45 to 84 mm, according to the criteria established by the Fetal Medicine Foundation.