Background: Examine the effectiveness of prenatal ultrasound diagnostics in the detection
of cardiovascular malformations, and their association with polyhydramnios and oligohydramnios.
Methods: We examined the fetal ultrasonography and postnatal clinical/fetopathological
data of 372 newborns/fetuses over a 7-year period in a tertiary centre. Fetal echocardiography
was performed in cases of suspected US findings between 18–32 weeks. During the ultrasound
the amniotic fluid amount was measured and the amniotic fluid index (AFI) or largest
amniotic fluid pocket was determined.
Results: Prenatal ultrasonographic results and postnatal/fetopathological diagnosis
were fully congruent in 236/372 cases (63.4%), and in 66/372 cases of cardiovascular
anomalies (17.7%) the discovery was partial, while in 70/372 cases no fetal cardiovascular
anomalies were diagnosed during pregnancy (18.8%) (false negative). Cardiovascular
malformations were isolated in 255 cases, in 172 of which (67.5%) the results of prenatal
ultrasonography and postnatal diagnostics were fully congruent. In 43 cases (16.9%)
the prenatal discovery was partial, and in 40 cases (15.7%) there was no prenatal
recognition of the malformation. Cardiovascular abnormalities were found as a part
of multiple malformations in 76 cases. In 41 fetuses the cardiovascular malformation
was associated with chromosomal abnormalities. Cardiovascular malformations were significantly
associated with polyhydramnios. Although in some of the cardiovascular malformations
the association rate with polyhydramnios was high (AVSD, double outlet right ventricle,
tetralogy of Fallot), we found a moderate association rate (19.7%). The association
with oligohydramnios was 8.57%.
Conclusions: Echocardiography plays an important role in the prenatal diagnostics.
In cases of polyhydramnios and oligohydramnios, fetal echocardiography should be performed.
