CHOC leads the way in fetal cardiology and fetal echocardiography, and recently shared its expertise at its first “Pacific Coast Fetal Cardiology 2017: An Interactive and Case-based Education Symposium.” Held at the Marriott Hotel, Newport Beach, the conference brought together nurses, sonographers, physicians, trainees and health care professionals from 50 different organizations across the country.
Led by Dr. Wyman Lai, medical director of echocardiography and co-medical director of the CHOC Heart Institute, and Anita Moon-Grady, from University of California, San Francisco, the event provided vital education on how to detect serious heart defects during pregnancy, and how to discern when to refer to a fetal cardiology specialist for further testing, counseling and intervention. Additionally, education was provided on the current International Society for Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG) and American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) guidelines, including: how to improve screening efficacy; acquire the ability to rule out or assess for selected complex anomalies during fetal cardiology screening; diagnose obstructive left heart lesions and counsel families on treatment options and prognoses; use key features reviewed to diagnose heterotaxy syndrome; counsel patients on the benefits and limitations of early fetal echocardiography; and diagnose tetralogy of Fallot, its variants and when to refer to a pediatric cardiologist for treatment.
More than a dozen cases were presented by various speakers and featured obstructive left heart lesions, Heterotaxy syndromes, early fetal echocardiography and variants of tetralogy of Fallot. Keynote speakers included Dr. Wayne Tworetzky from Boston Children’s and Dr. Lynn Simpson from Columbia.
Dr. Neda Zadeh, CHOC geneticist, presented, “Understanding Fetal Screening for Chromosomal Abnormalities.” No screening test can detect all birth defects, she explained; however, diagnostic testing is the “gold standard”for prenatal diagnosis of a chromosomal abnormality. CHOC pediatric cardiologist, Dr. Pierangelo Renella, provided an in-depth clinical presentation, “Coarctation of the Aorta versus Interrupted Aortic Arch.”
A major highlight of the conference was a live demonstration of a fetal echocardiogram performed by Dr. Wyman Lai on a pregnant patient with a fetus who presented with tetralogy of Fallot. As he demonstrated the procedure on the large screen, attendees were enthralled with Dr. Lai’s presentation and diagnosis.
Learn more about CHOC’s Heart Institute and fetal echocardiography program.
Find upcoming conferences and events: CHOC’s Continuing Medical Education.
