Fetal

FETAL CARDIAC ULTRASOUND

An echocardiogram is an ultrasound scan of the heart.  It is sometimes just called an ‘ECHO’.  The scan can give accurate pictures of the heart muscle, the heart chambers, and structures within the heart such as the valves.  A fetal echo is used to diagnose congenital heart defects, abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure.

You do not need any special preparation before the test. You will be asked to pull down or remove any clothing that may interfere with the scan.  If asked to remove clothing, you will be given a gown to wear and/or draped with a sheet.  The patient lies on their back on an examination bed.  A water-soluble gel is applied to the skin to help the ultrasound transducer (wand) move smoothly over the skin and produce better images (at CURE Diagnostics we warm the gel before applying).  The sonographer will gently place the transducer on your pelvic area and move it back and forth to image the fetal heart.  Once the procedure has been completed, the gel will be wiped off.

The acquired images (echocardiogram) are interpreted by a registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer then sent to a board-certified radiologist for creation of a diagnostic ultrasound report detailing your results and diagnosis.