Fetal Echocardiography
Fetal echocardiography is an essentially painless imaging study that enables physicians to visualize the heart of the fetus before birth. During a fetal echocardiogram – performed in similar fashion to a normal echocardiogram or obstetrical ultrasound – a probe that transmits and receives sound waves is used to generate real-time, moving images of the fetal heart.
| State-of-the-Art Echocardiography Lab |
"At Cincinnati Children's, state-of-the-art ultrasound systems enable us to view the fetal heart in great detail and provide highly accurate diagnoses to expectant mothers."
Erik Michelfelder, MD, Director, Fetal Heart Program
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The Fetal Heart Program at the Heart Institute at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center performs more than 1,000 fetal cardiac evaluations annually. This background in cardiac imaging allows each family seen by our experts to receive a comprehensive fetal cardiac evaluation, including a detailed plan and recommendations for future care for both the referring physician and the family.
Echocardiograms Performed by Cardiac Specialists With Expertise in Fetal Imaging
At the Heart Institute, the fetal echocardiogram is performed by a sonographer and interpreted by a cardiologist, both with special expertise in fetal imaging and cardiac ultrasound. The test is performed as an outpatient study in our state-of-the-art fetal echocardiography laboratory. Because a pediatric cardiac specialist performs the test, the study is interpreted "on the spot," and the results are shared with the mother and family during the same visit in which the fetal echocardiogram is performed.
A fetal echocardiogram is performed when there is a suspicion that the baby may have cardiac disease. Common indications for performing a fetal echocardiogram include:
- Family history of congenital heart disease
- Previous children born with congenital heart disease
- Suspected chromosomal abnormalities (for example, following amniocentesis)
- Other fetal malformations (seen on a screening obstetric ultrasound)
- Maternal diabetes
- Irregularities in the fetal heartbeat
A thorough fetal echocardiogram provides physicians with a complete anatomical description of the fetal heart, allows assessment of cardiac function and identifies normal or abnormal cardiac rhythms. Some cardiac problems, such as arrhythmias, may be treated before the baby is born by administering anti-arrhythmia medications to the mother.
Learn more about our physicians, surgeons, imaging team and staff.
Contact the Fetal Heart Program
For more information about the Fetal Heart Program, or for a consultation, call:
Dana McBride
Administrative Assistant, Fetal Heart Program
Phone: 513-636-9931
Toll free 1-800-344-2462 ext. 6-9931
Fax: 513-636-9747
Email: dana.mcbride@cchmc.org
Call Physician Priority Link, 1-888-636-7997, and ask for the cardiologist on call.
Contact the Heart Institute at Cincinnati Children's
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact the Heart Institute at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
