Basic technique of fetal echocardiography.

The fetal heart is the organ system most commonly affected with congenital disease. Though risk factors exist for congenital heart disease (eg, family history, toxin exposure, maternal illness, abnormal karyotype, and other fetal anomalies), the fetal heart is most often examined as part of a routine evaluation of the fetal anatomy in the fetus with no identifiable risk factors. The importance of a systematic, complete assessment of the cardiac axis cannot be overemphasized. All aspects of sonography (ie, real time, M-mode, pulsed, and color Doppler) can provide unique and integral information in evaluating the fetal heart and thorax.