What is Fetal Echocardiography?
Fetal echocardiography is a dedicated, specialist ultrasound of the fetal heart. While a routine anomaly scan checks basic heart structures in approximately 5 minutes, a fetal echo is a complete 30–45 minute cardiac study examining all four chambers, all four valves, the great vessels, blood flow direction and velocity (Doppler), heart rate, and cardiac rhythm.
The Importance of Fellowship Training
The fetal heart is no larger than a strawberry, beating over 140 times a minute. Analyzing every structure requires immense skill and dedicated training. Dr. Mathew Thomas completed his Fellowship in Fetal Echocardiography at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi — one of India's premier centres for fetal cardiac imaging. This specialist qualification, combined with FMF UK certification, places him among the most qualified fetal cardiographers in Kerala.
Who Needs a Fetal Echo?
A fetal echocardiogram is strongly recommended when:
High-Risk Indications
- Family history of congenital heart disease (parent or sibling)
- Previous child with a heart defect
- Maternal pre-gestational diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2)
- Maternal lupus or connective tissue disease / anti-Ro antibodies
- Abnormal NT measurement (>3.5 mm) on first trimester scan
- Suspected cardiac abnormality on routine anomaly scan
- Multiple pregnancy (monochorionic twins)
- IVF pregnancy
- Maternal rubella infection in first trimester
- Fetal arrhythmia detected on Doppler
When is it Done?
The standard time is 20 to 24 weeks of pregnancy. In high-risk cases (very elevated NT, anti-Ro antibodies, strong family history), an early echo can be done at 14–16 weeks using a transvaginal approach — providing a first-trimester cardiac diagnosis.
What Can Fetal Echo Detect?
- Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) & Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
- Tetralogy of Fallot
- Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA)
- Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)
- Coarctation of the Aorta
- Pulmonary stenosis and Ebstein's anomaly
- Cardiac arrhythmias (SVT, heart block)
Why Prenatal Cardiac Diagnosis Matters
A confirmed fetal cardiac diagnosis before birth allows delivery to be planned at a centre with a paediatric cardiac surgery unit, the neonatology team to be fully prepared, and prostaglandin therapy to be started immediately at birth if required. Many children born with prenatally diagnosed heart defects do very well with early, planned surgical correction.
Serving South Kerala: Fetal echocardiography by a fellowship-trained specialist — serving Kollam, Kottarakkara, Karunagappally, Kundara, Paravur, Punalur, Kayamkulam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, and Thiruvananthapuram.