Fetal Cardiac Malposition: Incidence and Outcome of Associated Cardiac and Extracardiac Malformations

Christine B. Falkensammer; Nancy A. Ayres; Carolyn A. Altman; Shuping Ge; Louis I. Bezold; Benjamin W. Eidem; John P. Kovalchin

doi:10.1055/s-2008-1066874

American Journal of Perinatology, Table of Contents

Am J Perinatol 2008; 25(5): 277-281
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1066874

Fetal Cardiac Malposition: Incidence and Outcome of Associated Cardiac and Extracardiac Malformations

Christine B. Falkensammer¹ , Nancy A. Ayres¹ , Carolyn A. Altman¹ , Shuping Ge¹ , Louis I. Bezold² , Benjamin W. Eidem³ , John P. Kovalchin⁴

¹Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
²Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Kentucky Children's Hospital, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
³Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota
⁴Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio State University, Heart Center, Columbus, Ohio

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Cardiac malposition is a rare but important finding when detected on fetal ultrasound. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of fetal cardiac malposition, associated abnormalities, and clinical outcome in a tertiary-care medical center. Records of fetuses (1993 to 2006) with dextroposition, dextrocardia, mesocardia, ectopia cordis, or heterotaxy were reviewed. The presence of congenital heart disease (CHD), extracardiac anomalies, and outcome were noted. Cardiac malposition was present in 101 fetuses among a total of 3313 (3%) pregnancies. In 78 (78%) patients, the heart was positioned in the right hemithorax. Of those, 26 (33%) had dextrocardia (CHD = 21), and 52 (67%) had dextroposition (CHD = 14). Sixteen (16%) patients had mesocardia (CHD = 8), and 7 (7%) had ectopia cordis (CHD = 6). The majority (58%) of fetal cardiac malposition was caused by intrathoracic masses. Concomitant CHD occurred in 50%. Outcome was available in 97%. The perinatal and neonatal mortality rate was 30%; the elective termination rate was 4%. Patients with CHD had higher mortality rates. The highest mortality rates occurred in ectopia cordis and combined disease of diaphragmatic hernia and CHD.

KEYWORDS

Dextrocardia - dextroposition - heterotaxy - fetal echocardiography

Full Text

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John P KovalchinM.D.

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