Importance of Relationship between Ductus and Isthmus in Fetal Diagnosis of Coarctation of Aorta.

Background: The prenatal diagnosis of coarctation of aorta (CoA) can prove problematic, with relatively high false-positive and false-negative rates. This significantly impacts both prenatal counseling and postnatal management. We sought to evaluate a variety of prenatal echo indices to determine which would best predict neonatal CoA.

Who should be referred? An evaluation of referral indications for fetal echocardiography in the detection of structural congenital heart disease.

Although fetal echocardiography is a useful tool for earlier detection of congenital heart disease (CHD), no clear, evidence-based appropriate use criteria exist. This study aimed to determine those referral indications most predictive of CHD. A retrospective cohort study of fetal echocardiograms was conducted at a single tertiary care center.

Relation of prenatal diagnosis with one-year survival rate for infants with congenital heart disease.

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart defects (CHDs) is increasingly common, but it is still unclear whether it translates to improved postoperative outcomes. We performed a retrospective cohort study of all infants (aged <1 year) who underwent surgery for CHDs from 2006 to 2011 at a single institution. Primary outcomes were in-hospital and 1-year mortality rates.

Usefulness of bone marrow transplantation in the Hurler syndrome.

The Hurler syndrome, an autosomal recessive storage disease of childhood, leads to death within the first decade of life from progressive deposition of glycosaminoglycans within the myointima of the coronary arteries and airways. Cardiac ultrasound findings of patients with this syndrome >10 years after successful bone marrow transplantation are described.

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease: the beginning.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common life-threatening defect in the first month of life. Its incidence is 8 per 1000 live newborns. Fetal echocardiography is used to screen, diagnose, monitor, and treat congenital heart defects and rhythm abnormalities.