[Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart diseases and cardiac arrhythmias by Doppler echocardiography].

OBJECTIVE

To detect in prenatal life fetal arrhythmia and congenital heart disease. We performed fetal echocardiography following classical indications according to the literature.

METHODS

Two-dimensional echocardiography associated with M-mode and Doppler was performed in 200 patients according to the indications: maternal diabetes, fetal arrhythmia, maternal congenital heart disease, previous fetus with cardiac defect, intrauterine growth retardation, nonimmune fetal hydrops, rubeola, isoimmunization, fetal malformation by ultrasound, polyhydramnios, gemelarity, oligohydramnios, maternal ingestion of drugs, lupus and others.

RESULTS

Structural abnormalities of the heart were found in 6 cases and associated with bradiarrhythmia in 5 cases (total of 5.5%). Fetal arrhythmias without cardiac malformation were found in 35 cases (17.5%) and premature atrial contractions were the most frequent.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings in this study indicate that it is possible the accurate definition of the cardiac anatomy and function. We have emphasized the method trying to spread it, objecting to improve assistance to the fetus and newborn with arrhythmias and/or congenital heart disease.