[Prenatal diagnosis of a double outlet right ventricle (DORV) using *doppler echocardiography with subsequent observation of intrauterine heart failure].

Doppler echocardiography was used for the prenatal diagnosis of a double outlet right ventricle and coarctation of the aorta in the 30th week of pregnancy. Heart failure with intrauterine death was observed during blood flow measurements. End-diastolic loss of flow velocity in the umbilical artery and fetal aorta occurred first and was followed by total loss of flow in both vessels, although ineffective contractions of the heart were recorded for a further three minutes. We conclude that a lock of end-diastolic flow velocity in the aorta may not only be due to strong placental resistance but can also be caused by a heart defect of by impaired cardiac function. The four-chamber-view approach makes an accurate prenatal diagnosis of severe congenital heart defects possible.