Finding Fetal Heart Defects
By: Robin Thibault, KARK 4 News
Updated: January 4, 2008
Heart defects are difficult to detect in fetuses -- because of their small size and their constant movement in the womb. But, a Virginia doctor created the first automated ultrasound -- making it a simple one-shot process.
The program makes it simple for a doctor or ultrasound technician to get six vital views of a baby's heart from one simple 3-d picture.
Heart defects are the number one cause of death during the first year of life and often go undiagnosed.
"Most babies that are born with congenital heart disease are born to mothers without risk factors," says OB-GYN Dr. Alfred Abuhamad.
GE Healthcare has licensed the software for use in its 3-d and 4-d ultrasound systems.
It should be available to obstetricians within a year.
