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Structural Heart Disease in the Fetus

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Pediatric and Congenital Cardiology, Cardiac Surgery and Intensive Care

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Abstract

Congenital heart defects can be diagnosed by ultrasound during fetal life with a high degree of diagnostic accuracy at specialist centers. Cardiac defects characterized by an abnormal four-chamber view of the heart have higher detection rates than those lesions which depend on views of the outflow tracts for their detection. Prenatal detection allows appropriate preparation for delivery and for the prenatal identification of associated anomalies. Prediction of babies who will require emergency postnatal intervention means that planning the site of delivery and emergency management is facilitated. There is evidence that postnatal outcome may be improved by prenatal diagnosis of some cardiac lesions including hypoplastic left heart syndrome, transposition of the great arteries, and coarctation of the aorta.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Lambeth Palace Road, London, UK

    John M. Simpson

  2. Fetal Cardiology Unit, Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Evelina Children’s Hospital, Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust, Westminster Bridge Road, London, UK

    John M. Simpson & Caroline B. Jones

Authors
  1. John M. Simpson
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  2. Caroline B. Jones
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to John M. Simpson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Pediatric Cardiology, Children's Hospital Colorado, Univ. of Colorado, Denver, Aurora, Colorado, USA

    Eduardo M. Da Cruz

  2. Dept. Pediatric Cardiology, Children's Hospital Colorado, Univ. of Colorado, Denver, Aurora, Colorado, USA

    Dunbar Ivy

  3. Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Children's Hospital Colorado, Univ. of Colorado, Denver, Aurora, Colorado, USA

    James Jaggers

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag London

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Simpson, J.M., Jones, C.B. (2014). Structural Heart Disease in the Fetus. In: Da Cruz, E., Ivy, D., Jaggers, J. (eds) Pediatric and Congenital Cardiology, Cardiac Surgery and Intensive Care. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4619-3_156

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4619-3_156

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-4618-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-4619-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

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