Can congenital heart disease be detected during prenatal examinations?

Our heart is the primary organ responsible for sustaining life. Any cardiac issue can potentially lead to death, so we must remain vigilant about various types of heart disease. Can congenital heart disease (CHD) be detected during prenatal screening?

Can congenital heart disease be detected during prenatal screening?

Congenital heart disease can indeed be identified through prenatal examinations. Fetal echocardiography performed between weeks 18 and 20 of gestation can assess whether the fetal heart structure is normal and detect CHD—including tetralogy of Fallot, ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, great vessel anomalies, and congenital endocardial cushion defects. CHD primarily arises from structural abnormalities in the developing fetal heart or malformations in the formation of major cardiac vessels. Whether termination of pregnancy or delivery should proceed—and the optimal timing—must be determined by expert medical evaluation. In cases of severe CHD, survival after birth may be extremely difficult.

When CHD is diagnosed, prompt and active treatment is essential. Currently, multiple medical treatment options are available—including conservative management, surgical intervention, and catheter-based interventional therapy. Selecting the appropriate treatment modality can yield excellent outcomes without exacerbating the condition. Treatment choice must be individualized based on disease severity. For milder cases, conservative management may be appropriate. In children aged 2–3 years with certain types of CHD, conservative observation may be warranted, as some defects (e.g., small septal defects) may spontaneously close over time.

Patients are strongly advised to undergo surgery as soon as feasible; delaying intervention may significantly increase risks. We hope this information proves helpful to you.