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Fetal echocardiography

Atlantic Health offers fetal echocardiography, a specialized ultrasound, that helps identify heart concerns before birth and guides care for your baby.

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Fetal echocardiograms

The Children’s Heart Center and Hersh Fetal Center offer fetal echocardiography, an ultrasound test that evaluates the fetal heart. The equipment used is similar to that used for cardiac echocardiograms and routine prenatal ultrasounds. A full bladder is not required.

The ideal time for a fetal echocardiogram is between 18 and 22 weeks’ gestation. In certain higher-risk clinical situations, an earlier fetal echocardiogram may be considered as early as 13 weeks’ gestation.

Fetal echocardiograms are performed and interpreted by a fetal/pediatric cardiologist. At the end of the test, patients will meet with the cardiologist to review the results, discuss any recommendations, and outline a care plan for the remainder of the pregnancy and, if needed, after birth. Patients will also have the opportunity to ask questions during this consultation.

Common reasons for a standard fetal echocardiogram, performed at 18–22 weeks, or an “early” fetal echocardiogram, performed at 13–18 weeks, are listed below.

An early fetal echocardiogram does not replace the routine fetal echocardiogram performed at 18–22 weeks because of the inherent limitations of imaging earlier in pregnancy. A follow-up fetal echocardiogram between 18 and 22 weeks will still be necessary.

Common indications for a referral for a fetal echocardiogram:

  1. Abnormality or suspected abnormality on an obstetrical ultrasound
  2. Family history of congenital heart disease
  3. Pregnancy conceived using In vitro fertilization (IVF)
  4. Fetal arrhythmia
  5. Pre-gestational diabetes
  6. Abnormal genetic screening/testing including possible chromosomal abnormality
  7. Increased nuchal translucency/thickness
  8. Autoimmune disease including mothers with anti-ro/SSA antibodies
  9. Monochorionic twin gestation
  10. Certain maternal infections (such as rubella)
  11. Certain medication exposures (examples: paroxetine, ACE inhibitors, retinoids)

Common indications for a referral and performance of an “early” gestation fetal echocardiogram (13-18 weeks gestation):

  1. Suspected congenital heart disease or cardiac abnormality on obstetrical ultrasound
  2. Family history including a parent or child/prior fetus with a major form of congenital heart disease
  3. Abnormal genetic screening or confirmed via invasive diagnostic testing (such as amniocentesis)
  4. Increased nuchal thickness
  5. Fetal arrhythmia

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