Real-time three-dimensional echocardiography using a matrix probe with live xPlane imaging of the interventricular septum.

OBJECTIVE

To describe a technique to rapidly visualize the in-plane view of the fetal interventricular septum (IVS) to enable the identification of a ventricular septal defect (VSD).

METHODS

One hundred and fifty-one women were invited to participate after their routine fetal morphology scan, including four suspected to have congenital cardiac defects which were confirmed postnatally. A standard examination protocol using real-time three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography with live xPlane imaging was developed. The ability of this new technology to examine the ventricular septum was investigated.

RESULTS

The in-plane view of the fetal IVS was visualized successfully in 150 (99.3%) cases by real-time 3D echocardiography with live xPlane imaging, including 82 (54.3%) cases with the spine posterior and 68 (45.7%) cases with the spine anterior. The in-plane view of the IVS successfully visualized the VSDs in three fetuses with VSD and displayed the intact IVS in one fetus with transposition of the great arteries without VSD.

CONCLUSION

We describe live xPlane imaging, a simple method for the real-time assessment of the in-plane view of the IVS that has the potential to enhance the diagnostic accuracy of fetal cardiac examination.