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Transvaginal sonographic fetal axis determination in early second trimester

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Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

Correct prenatal determination of the fetal right/left axis is essential for the diagnosis of fetal malformations, in particular congenital heart anomalies. A reliable method of transabdominal echocardiographic assessment of the fetal situs in the late second trimester was established. We aimed to determine the validity of the transvaginal approach to assess fetal axis.

Method

The study group consisted of 108 consecutive women in the second trimester of a singleton pregnancy, undergoing elective transvaginal anatomy scans. All had undergone previous transabdominal echocardiography to establish fetal axis. The same technique was used to assess the fetal axis during the transvaginal study, and the findings were compared.

Results

There was total agreement in fetal axis determination between transabdominal and transvaginal scans in all cases. The accuracy of the transvaginal study was not affected by maternal obesity, fetal position or the presence of cardiac malformation (in one case).

Conclusion

Transvaginal ultrasonography is the reliable and accurate means of determining the fetal axis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center, 49100, Petah Tiqwa, Israel

    Yoav Peled, Yariv Yogev, Abigail Kahn, Reuven Mashiach & Josef Pardo

  2. Cardiac Catheterization Unit, Schneider Children’s Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Michael Berant

Authors
  1. Yoav Peled
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  2. Yariv Yogev
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  3. Abigail Kahn
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  4. Reuven Mashiach
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  5. Michael Berant
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  6. Josef Pardo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yariv Yogev.

Additional information

Both affiliations are affiliated with Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University.

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Peled, Y., Yogev, Y., Kahn, A. et al. Transvaginal sonographic fetal axis determination in early second trimester. Arch Gynecol Obstet 278, 237–239 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-007-0555-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-007-0555-6

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