Course overview
This course will provide accredited sonographers experienced in obstetric scanning with an opportunity to advance their knowledge of fetal heart imaging with ultrasound. Embryology, anatomy, physiology of the heart including fetal circulation, and scanning planes of the fetal heart to image the normal fetal heart: four chamber, normal outflow tracts and arches, atrioventricular and semilunar valves; ultrasound appearance and Doppler haemodynamics of numerous congenital and acquired fetal cardiac anomalies; common syndromes and associated ultrasound findings in congenital heart disease; recognising fetal arrhythmia; introduction to emerging technologies such as 3D and 4D imaging.
Course learning outcomes
- Revise the embryology of the developing fetal heart and circulatory system.
- Using a knowledge of ultrasound instrumentation, and image optimisation select optimal scan settings for a fetal echocardiography examination.
- Evaluate the general scanning principles and pitfalls and construct optimal scanning techniques.
- Relate a knowledge of the sonographic features underlying various structural and functional anomalies.
- Demonstrate an ability to appraise sonographic appearances to recognise normal and abnormal fetal cardiac electrophysiology and fetal arrhythmias on fetal echocardiography.
- Evaluate the role of recent advances in imaging techniques and technology in fetal echocardiography including its role in fetal cardiac interventional procedures.