Table 6.
Overview of key sections in fetal echocardiography. A summary of the purposes of different views of the fetal heart that are used in a standard fetal echocardiography procedure [104,105,106].
| Section | Description | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Fetal Apical Four-Chamber Heart Section | View of the fetal heart from the apex, capturing all four chambers (left and right atria, left and right ventricles) | Assess size, structure, and function of each chamber individually and their alignment |
| Three-Vessel Catheter Section | Evaluates three major blood vessels in the fetus’s chest area: aorta, pulmonary artery, and superior vena cava | Assess size, position, and potential abnormalities of these vessels |
| Three-Vessel Trachea Section | Evaluates aorta, pulmonary artery, superior vena cava, and trachea simultaneously | Detect abnormalities involving both cardiovascular and respiratory systems |
| Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Section | Focuses on assessing the outflow tract of the right ventricle connecting to the pulmonary artery | Identify obstructions or malformations affecting blood flow from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery |
| Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Section | Concentrates on evaluating the outflow tract of the left ventricle connecting to the aorta | Identify abnormalities or blockages hindering the flow of oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the aorta |