Prenatal echocardiographic diagnosis of fetal tetralogy of Fallot

Objective To investigate the clinical value of prenatal diagnosis of fetal tetralogy of Fallot with fetal echocardiography.Methods The data of 15 fetuses diagnosed as tetralogy of Fallot by fetal echocardiography were reviewed and the abnormal echocardiographic features in various sonographic views were analyzed.Results Thirteen fetuses were confirmed to be tetralogy of Fallot by autopsy or operation after birth and two fetuses just simple ventricular septal defect verified by post echocardiography and surgery.The key echocardiographic features of tetralogy of Fallot were uniformly demonstrated to ventricular septal defect ,overriding aorta and subpulmonary stenosis.The leftward deviation of the cardiac apex,aortic root dilation and abnormal ratio of pulmonary artery to aorta were helpful to the prenatal diagnosis of fetal tetralogy of Fallot.Conclusions Fetal tetralogy of Fallot can be detected by echocardiography,but some affected factors should be noted in fetal heart examination.