FE FE Reporting & Counseling 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which information is mandatory in a fetal echocardiography report according to standard guidelines?
- Only the final diagnosis
- Gestational age, indication, image quality, cardiac situs, segmental analysis, and Doppler findings (Correct answer)
- Maternal blood pressure and weight only
- Fetal weight estimate and amniotic fluid index only
Correct answer: Gestational age, indication, image quality, cardiac situs, segmental analysis, and Doppler findings
A complete fetal echo report requires gestational age, clinical indication, image quality assessment, cardiac situs, segmental cardiac analysis, and relevant Doppler findings.
Question 2: When counseling parents after diagnosis of a major congenital heart defect, which team member is essential?
- Obstetrician only
- Pediatric cardiologist and maternal-fetal medicine specialist (Correct answer)
- Neonatologist only
- Primary care pediatrician
Correct answer: Pediatric cardiologist and maternal-fetal medicine specialist
Multidisciplinary counseling involving both pediatric cardiology and maternal-fetal medicine is essential for accurate prognosis, management planning, and parental support.
Question 3: Which fetal cardiac finding requires delivery at a center with immediate availability of cardiac surgery?
- Isolated small VSD
- Ductal-dependent cardiac lesion (Correct answer)
- Mild pulmonary stenosis
- Isolated atrial septal defect
Correct answer: Ductal-dependent cardiac lesion
Ductal-dependent lesions require prostaglandin E1 at birth to maintain ductal patency; these neonates must deliver at a center capable of immediate cardiac surgery.
Question 4: Which statement best describes the recurrence risk for congenital heart disease when one parent is affected?
- Less than 1%
- Approximately 3–7% (Correct answer)
- Approximately 15–20%
- Greater than 50%
Correct answer: Approximately 3–7%
When one parent has CHD, the recurrence risk for offspring is approximately 3–7%, varying by lesion type, higher for left-sided obstructive lesions.
Question 5: Which karyotype abnormality has the highest association with atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD)?
- Turner syndrome (45,X)
- Trisomy 18
- Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) (Correct answer)
- Trisomy 13
Correct answer: Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome)
Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) is the most strongly associated karyotype with complete AVSD, occurring in approximately 40–50% of cases.
Question 6: What is the recommended follow-up interval for fetal echocardiography in a pregnancy with anti-Ro antibodies and no current heart block?
- Single scan at 20 weeks only
- Weekly scans from 16–26 weeks gestation (Correct answer)
- Monthly scans throughout pregnancy
- Only if fetal bradycardia detected
Correct answer: Weekly scans from 16–26 weeks gestation
Weekly fetal echo surveillance from 16–26 weeks is recommended for anti-Ro positive pregnancies to detect early AV block when intervention may be possible.
FE FE Reporting & Counseling 1
Which information is mandatory in a fetal echocardiography report according to standard guidelines?