Perinatal and Delivery Management of Infants with Congenital Heart Disease

Clin Perinatol. 2016 Mar;43(1):55-71. doi: 10.1016/j.clp.2015.11.004.

Abstract

Advances in fetal echocardiography have improved prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) and allowed better delivery and perinatal management. Some newborns with CHD require urgent intervention after delivery. In these cases, delivery close to a pediatric cardiac center may be considered, and the presence of a specialized cardiac team in the delivery room or urgent transport of the infant should be planned in advance. Delivery planning, monitoring in labor, rapid intervention at birth if needed, and avoidance of iatrogenic preterm delivery have the potential to improve outcomes for infants with prenatally diagnosed CHD.

Keywords: Antenatal surveillance; Biophysical profile; Congenital heart disease; Fetal cardiology; Fetal echocardiography; Neurodevelopment; Obstetric management.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Cardiology
  • Cooperative Behavior
  • Delivery, Obstetric*
  • Disease Management
  • Disease Progression
  • Echocardiography
  • Female
  • Fetal Heart / diagnostic imaging*
  • Fetal Heart / physiopathology
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / physiopathology
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Neonatology
  • Obstetrics
  • Perinatal Care / methods*
  • Pregnancy
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal