Abnormal pulmonary venous return diagnosed prenatally by pulsed Doppler flow imaging

Abstract

Pulsed Doppler ultrasound has been used to characterize distinctive pulmonary venous flow patterns in the normal fetus and child. Changes in these characteristic flow patterns have been related to abnormal atrial and ventricular hemodynamics. We report a case of total anomalous pulmonary venous return diagnosed prenatally because of an abnormal pulsed Doppler echocardiographic flow pattern, even though color flow mapping appeared to demonstrate normal pulmonary venous drainage. This case demonstrates the importance of obtaining pulsed Doppler pulmonary venous flow profiles during fetal echocardiography, especially in cases of complex congenital heart disease.