What is foetal cardiology?

Foetal cardiology is a branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease in the foetus.

What are the different types of congenital heart disease?

There are many different types of congenital heart defects, which can be mild or complex and may cause life-threatening complications. Some of the common types of congenital heart diseases include:

• Atrial septal defect (ASD): A hole in the wall that separates the two upper chambers of the heart.
• Ventricular septal defect (VSD): A hole in the wall that separates the two lower chambers of the heart.
• Coarctation of the aorta: A narrowing of the aorta, the main artery that carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body.
• Tetralogy of fallot: A combination of four heart defects that are present at birth.
• Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA): A condition in which the ductus arteriosus, a blood vessel that connects the pulmonary artery to the aorta, fails to close after birth.
• Pulmonary valve stenosis: A narrowing of the pulmonary valve, which controls blood flow from the right ventricle to the lungs.
• Transposition of the great arteries: A condition in which the two main arteries leaving the heart are reversed.
• Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR): A rare condition in which the pulmonary veins, which carry oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the heart, are not connected to the left atrium as they should be. 

How is congenital heart disease treated?

The treatment of congenital heart disease depends on the severity of the heart condition. Mild defects, such as holes in the heart, may not require treatment as they may improve on their own and may not cause any further problems. However, significant defects that cause problems may require surgery or interventional procedures. Medications can be used to treat some mild congenital heart defects that help the heart work better.

Several surgeries and procedures are available to treat adults with congenital heart disease. These surgeries and procedures include cardiac catheterisation, which can be done to check blood flow and blood pressures in the heart. A doctor gently inserts a catheter into a blood vessel, usually in the groin, and up to the heart. X-rays are used to guide the catheter to the correct position. Sometimes, dye is injected through the catheter. The dye helps blood vessels show up better on the images.

What is the main role of foetal cardiologists?

Foetal cardiologists perform foetal cardiac screening for pregnant women and foetuses with certain risk factors. They use the latest diagnostic procedures and technology, including foetal echocardiograms and foetal MRIs, to accurately diagnose cardiac disease and minimise the time spent in the hospital.