Orientation to fetal position and visceral/abdominal situs
In these views, you will appreciate the initial assessment of the fetal orientation regarding right/left - anterior/posterior. It is important to establish the position of the cardiac segments and their relationships. This includes: visceral/abdominal situs (stomach, liver position), position of the portal vein, descending aorta, and inferior vena cava relative to the axial plane of the the abdomen and the position of the cardiac apex position and axis in the chest.
Scan through the body of the fetus, placenta seen on top
Same scan but slowed-down. The cardiac axis is seen within the fetal chest towards the left of the fetal thorax.
Cross-section through the fetal abdomen indicating the descending aorta to the left of the SVC. The liver is on top. The stomach is to the left and on top of the spleen.
Scan through the body of the fetus, placenta seen on top
Same scan but slowed-down
Another scan through the fetal body
Another scan through the fetal body
Breech presentation
From Presentation by Dr Wadi Mawad - Pediatric Cardiologist at Montreal Children's Hospital
Situs Sweep:
The stomach is on the left
The heart is on the left
The liver is on the right
Performance of sweep:
Pulmonary veins by colour Doppler
The cardiac axis is important to assess as this can be a sign of CHD. By drawing a line between the vertebral body and the sternum and a second line along the long axis of the heart. The usual axis is around 45 degrees. The cardiac apex points to the left and the heart occupies the left chest. The size of the heart is easily assessed in 4 chamber view. By circumference or area. As a general rule, the heart should not occupy more than 1/3 of the chest.
Created by Gabriel Altit - Neonatologist / Créé par Gabriel Altit (néonatalogiste) - © NeoCardioLab - 2020-2023 - Contact us / Contactez-nous
