Prenatal diagnosis of fetal double aortic arch by echocardiography / 中华医学超声杂志（电子版）

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the echocardiographic features and clinical significance of prenatal diagnosis of fetal double aortic arch (DAA). Methods Totally 21 596 fetuses underwent fetal echocardiography in Nanjing Medical University Afifliated Suzhou Hospital and ifve cases were diagnosed as DAA by echocardiography. Echocardiographic characteristics, types and outcomes of these ifve cases were summarized retrospectively. Results Five fetal cases were diagnosed as DAA by fetal echocardiography. 1. Prenatal echocardiographic featuresIn three-vessel and trachea view, the normal“V”-shaped conlfuence formed by the aortic arch and ductal arch was absent. However, the ascending aorta bifurcated into the left and right aortic arch and these two arches encircled the trachea. Annular lfow signal around trachea was seen on color Doppler imaging. 2. TypesAmong these ifve fetuses, three cases were called right arch predominant type, whose diameters of right arches were larger than those of left arches. The other two were balanced type, whose diameters of right arches were almost equal to those of left arches. 3. Accompanied malformationsCase 2 was accompanied with membranous ventricular septal defect and permanent left superior vena cava. Case 4 was associated by hemivertebrae. The other three cases had no other abnormalities. 4. Follow-upThese five cases were all arranged for MRI subsequently and all were confirmed by follow-up till to the induction of labor or three months after birth. Conclusions Double aortic arch is a kind of severe congenital heart disease. Echocardiography is the ifrst choice to diagnose DAA prenatally and three-vessel and trachea view are the effective cross sections in the diagnosis of double aortic arch.