Evolution of Fetal Cardiac Imaging over the Last 20 Years

The purpose of this article is to describe the evaluation of a variety of congenital heart diseases (CHDs) using three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound with different software, such as Cristal Vue, Realistic Vue, LumiFlow, and Spatiotemporal Image Correlation (STIC), with HDlive and HDlive Flow Silhouette modes. These technologies provide realistic images of the fetal heart and cardiac vessels using a fixed virtual light source that allows the operator to freely select a better light source position to enhance the cardiovascular anatomical details. In addition, Fetal Intelligent Navigation Echocardiography (FINE) technology, also known as 5D Heart or 5D, is a technology that enables the automatic reconstruction of the nine standard fetal echocardiographic views and can alert non-specialists to suspected CHD. Through the use of artificial intelligence, an ultrasound machine is able to perform automatic anatomical and functional measurements. In addition, hese technologies enable the reconstruction of fetal cardiac structures in realistic images, improving the depth perception and resolution of anatomic cardiac details and blood vessels compared to those of standard two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound.

Automated summary

This article describes the evaluation of congenital heart diseases using three-dimensional ultrasound and different software. These technologies provide realistic images of the fetal heart and allow better visualization of cardiovascular anatomical details. Fetal Intelligent Navigation Echocardiography technology enables automatic reconstruction of fetal cardiac views and alerts non-specialists to suspected heart diseases. These technologies, combined with artificial intelligence, improve the depth perception and resolution of cardiac structures and blood vessels compared to standard two-dimensional ultrasound.