What week can fetal echocardiography?

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Pham Thi Yen - Obstetrician - Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

According to statistics, each year, nearly 10,000 children are born with congenital heart disease, of which up to half are severe congenital heart defects and can die at any time. This is an alarming situation, but it can be overcome if pregnant women perform fetal echocardiography to diagnose congenital heart disease in the prenatal stage. So at what week is the fetal echocardiogram to effectively screen for congenital heart disease?

Fetal echocardiography is a diagnostic imaging method in the prenatal period that uses ultrasound waves to examine the structure, function and heart rate to assess the fetal cardiovascular status.
This is a method of prenatal diagnosis recommended by doctors to be able to diagnose and detect congenital heart disease early and give appropriate treatment methods. The accurate diagnosis of severe congenital heart disease in the fetus is up to 90% if performed by highly qualified physicians with extensive experience in prenatal diagnosis.

During fetal development, the heart begins to form quite clearly and beat on the 22nd day after conception, often before the mother realizes she is pregnant. Fetal heartbeat will appear at 6-7 weeks of pregnancy, in this period, if using modern means, you can hear the heartbeat of the fetus but also in some cases it takes up to 8 weeks. -10 of pregnancy to hear the fetal heart depends on the development of the embryo.
The fetal heart will develop from a simple tube shape and then twist and divide to form a 4-chambered heart with the heart valves being the most complete structure. Starting from the 20th week, the fetal heartbeat becomes strong and just using normal headphones can hear the fetal heart. This is the time when it is possible to evaluate the fetal heart thanks to 4D ultrasound to determine the position, size, and morphology to make a diagnosis of the fetal heart condition.
Thus, from 6-7 weeks of pregnancy, pregnant women should not skip fetal echocardiography until the fetal heart is fully developed and completed. Fetal echocardiography can detect structural and functional abnormalities of the heart such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome, monoventricular heart, pulmonary valve atrophy, atrophy of the aortic valve, atrioventricular canal, or ventricular septal defect. simple.

In fact, up to 90% of fetuses are born with congenital heart disease even though there are no previous risk factors, so fetal heart rate is recommended for all pregnant women, especially those in high-risk groups as follows: :
Family history of congenital heart disease. Pregnant women with diabetes or genetic diseases such as Ellis Van Creveld, Noonan,... Pregnant women infected with rubella during pregnancy or have autoimmune diseases such as lupus, Sjogren,... Have a history of using certain drugs such as drugs anticonvulsants, antidepressants, insulin, anti-prostaglandin,... Pregnancy thanks to the intervention of artificial insemination. In addition, the abnormal features of the fetal heart are also factors that cause the doctor to appoint fetal echocardiography such as: fetal heart rhythm, abnormality of chromosomes, ...

The normal fetal heart rate will fluctuate between 120-160 beats / minute, but when moving in the womb, it can increase up to 180 times / minute. Your baby's heart will beat faster at 20 weeks, but if it's over 180 beats per minute, it could be an abnormality that needs to be checked.
With the desire to bring the most special and preferential care to mothers and babies right from pregnancy to delivery, Vinmec offers a Package Maternity Care Program. Doctors will advise, monitor and take good care of mother and baby from pregnancy. After the birth, mother and baby will rest and relax in a comfortable ward with dedicated and professional care from a team of doctors and nurses at the Hospital.
Doctor Pham Thi Yen has 11 years of experience in examination and treatment in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Doctor with strengths and deep understanding in:
Examination and consultation of normal pregnancies, pathological pregnancies, high-risk pregnancies Examination and treatment of gynecological diseases: cervicitis, cervical ectropion Surgery Laparoscopic surgery for gynecological diseases: ectopic pregnancy, uterine tumor, ovarian tumor Surgery for breast, vulvar, vaginal, cervical tumors Obstetric surgery: cesarean section, examination and treatment of endocrine disorders in women of all ages: puberty, reproductive age; perimenopausal age.