Investigation of Cardiac Disorders in Infants with a History of Echogenic Focus on Fetal Echocardiography: A Cohort Study

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The echogenic fetal heart is a bright spot observed in ultrasound examinations of the fetus. The present study aimed to investigate cardiac disorders in neonates with a history of echogenic focus on fetal echocardiography. Methods: The present study was conducted as a cohort study in pregnant women who were referred for echocardiography between 2017 - 2023. In this time period, 926 pregnant women were referred to Dr. Mohammad Kermanshahi Hospital, and only 100 pregnant women whose fetuses had fetal heart echogenic focus during pregnancy and met the study criteria were included in the study as a census. The data collection tool was a checklist developed by the researchers. Results: The results showed that no cardiac abnormalities were reported for any of the babies, and 36 days after birth, the fetal heart echogenic focus disappeared. The findings indicated that the prevalence of fetal heart echogenic focus in the right ventricle, left ventricle and both ventricles was 46.0% (n = 46), 29.0% (n = 29), and 25.0% (n = 25), respectively. Conclusions: Fetal heart echogenic foci, particularly when the right ventricle is involved, seem to be a poor prognostic sign of congenital cardiac abnormalities.