Basic Fetal Heart Ultrasound Course with Simulation
Course Overview
This one-day intensive course provides participants with a solid foundation in fetal cardiac ultrasound. Through a combination of theoretical lectures and practical, simulation-based training, attendees will learn to recognize normal fetal cardiac anatomy and identify the most frequent congenital heart anomalies encountered during prenatal screening. The hands-on sessions, conducted with high-fidelity ultrasound simulators, will allow participants to gain realistic scanning experience under expert supervision.
Learning Objectives
To review normal fetal cardiac anatomy and standard cardiac planes.
To recognize the most common congenital heart defects encountered in the prenatal period.
To develop practical scanning skills using ultrasound simulators.
To interpret fetal heart images and differentiate normal from abnormal findings.
Scientific Program
09:00 – 09:10 | Introduction and Rationale of the Course
09:10 – 09:30 | Lecture 1: Principles of Fetal Cardiac Screening
Standard imaging planes: situs, four-chamber, outflow tracts, and three-vessel view
Use of color Doppler: technical aspects and optimization
09:30 – 10:00 | Simulation Session 1: Normal Fetal Heart
Hands-on training with simulators focusing on recognition of normal anatomy.
10:00 – 10:30 | Lecture 2: Common Signs of Anomalies Detectable on the Four-Chamber View
10:30 – 11:00 | Coffee Break
11:00 – 12:30 | Simulation Session 2: Anomalies Detectable on the Four-Chamber View
Abnormalities of dimension, position, and cardiac axis: dextrocardia, cardiomegaly, extreme levocardia
Univentricular heart: hypoplastic left heart syndrome, hypoplastic right heart syndrome
Septal defects: ventricular septal defect, complete atrioventricular septal defect
Abnormal chamber dimensions: atriomegaly, ventricular disproportion
Valvular anomalies: tricuspid dysplasia, critical aortic stenosis
12:30 – 13:00 | Lecture 3: Common Signs of Anomalies Detectable on the Outflow Tracts
13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch Break
14:00 – 15:30 | Simulation Session 3: Common Signs of Anomalies Detectable on the Outflow Tracts
Anomalies of the septo-aortic continuity: Tetralogy of Fallot
Anomalies of the crossover: Transposition of the great arteries
Valvular anomalies: Pulmonary stenosis
15:30 – 16:00 | Lecture 4: Common Signs of Anomalies Detectable on the Three-Vessel and Trachea View
16:00 – 17:00 | Simulation Session 4: Common Signs of Anomalies Detectable on the Outflow Tracts
Abnormal dimensions of the aortic arch: Coarctation of the aorta
Abnormal position of the aortic arch: Right aortic arch
Abnormal number of vessels: Persistent superior vena cava, Transposition of the great arteries, Pulmonary atresia
17:00-17:30 Final challenge: Is the Heart Normal or Anormal?