ABSTRACT
Introduction Structural congenital heart disease (CHD) is among the most frequently missed anomalies in prenatal ultrasound studies. Prenatal detection can significantly improve perinatal outcome at least in certain types of CHD. 1-4 Various technical advances in ultrasound systems have promised improvements specifically for fetal echocardiography, but prenatal detection rates vary considerably, and depend on factors such as operator training and experience. 5-9 Screening for fetal heart disease and detailed diagnosis of fetal heart disease require technologies of different complexity. 10 This chapter attempts to review recent and imminent technical advances that have impacted or may affect fetal echocardiography. Technical improvements in transducer technology and image processing as well as a basic description of three-dimensional (3D) technology are complemented with an outlook on the techniques for studying fetal cardiac mechanics.
