[Evaluation of ventricular function in the fetus]

Abstract

Congenital heart disease is the most frequent neonatal malformation, with an estimated prevalence between 0.8% and 1%. Echocardiography is an important tool for diagnosis and follow-up in cardiology, because it is easy to use, inexpensive, and noninvasive. The study of fetal heart by means of echocardiography allows early diagnosis and treatment of fetal heart anomalies and dysfunction, and such a technique is increasingly used. This exam is often required after morphological fetal echography, when a congenital heart disease is suspected or when there is an increased risk of congenital heart disease. Fetal echocardiography allows to evaluate the cardiac anatomy and function or cardiac rhythm. The purpose of this review is to summarize the main parameters and echocardiographic techniques for the assessment of heart rhythm and function: two-dimensional echocardiography, Doppler, tissue Doppler, and two-dimensional strain.