| 1 |
What are the functions of the Fetal
Cardiology Unit? |
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a. To provide a complete and accurate analysis of the fetal heart
anomalies
b. To help familes understand the problem and to offer the best possible
solutions.
c. To counseling of families who are at risk of having a fetus with
a cardiac anomaly.
d. To provide long term follow up of the affected children. |
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| 2 |
What happens once an expecting mother is referred
to the unit? |
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a. The patient is registered with an I.D. number. If she has already
visited Mediscan, it is advisable for her to bring the I.D. card issued
to her previously. This will facilitate better reporting of recurrent
fetal anomalies.
b. A detailed history of the lady is obtained
c. The family history of the couple is elicited
d. The whole fetus (not only the heart) is scanned.
e. If necessary for better visualization, the fetus may require a
repeat scan and hence there may be a delay before the whole process
is completed. |
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| 3 |
If a fetal cardiac anomaly has been diagnosed
what next? |
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a. Once an anomaly is suspected, counseling is offered to the family.
The date and time will be fixed by the staff of the Fetal Cardiology
Unit.
b. All members of the family who are interested in clarifying the
doubts may attend the counseling session. It is ideal that the affected
couple be present to benefit from the counseling directly.
c. The questions related to the problems will be answered in detail.
Some of the questions that arise commonly are -
- What is the problem?
- How did it arise?
- How will it affect the fetus during pregnancy and after birth?
- Is it correctable?
- What will be the nature of treatment that is required?
- Where are these services available?
- When and how to manage the delivery?
- What happens after the birth of the baby?
d. In certain conditions, tests may be suggested during pregnancy
to help answer some of the questions. These will be arranged by the
Fetal Cardiology Unit.
e. Certain fetuses may be require treatment in pregnancy itself .
For eg: When the fetal heart is beating very fast, medications may
be offerd to the mother to treat the baby.
f. All fetuses require periodic scan. Depending on the primary condition,
some may require more frequent scans than others. The appointment
for the follow up scan will be fixed by the Fetal Cardiology Unit. |
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| 4 |
How can the unit help the baby after birth? |
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a. As and whe possible the team will help arrange for the families
to consult a Paediatric cardiologist to discuss the plan during and
after delivery of the child.
b. The referring physician too may also consult whenever necessary.
c. In the case of a sick neonate, members of the team may be able
to help with a portable echocardiogram to further help clinicians
in planning treatment. |
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| 5 |
Who are the mothers who are likely to benefit
from this unit? |
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a. When a fetal cardiac anomaly is suspected on an antenatal scan
done outside or at MediScan.
b. For mothers at risk of having a fetus with a cardiac anomaly if
- she has had a fetus/ previous baby with a cardiac problem
- there was / is a family history of heart anomalies
- she has been consuming medications that carry a risk of causing
fetal heart problems
- she herself is suffering from a heart disease
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| 6 |
How can a patient be referred to a Fetal Cardiology
Unit? |
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a. Direct referral of pregnant mothers is possible when a cardiac
anomaly was suspected by a scan.
b. A mother may be referred to this unit after she has been screened
by the fetal ultrasound team at MediScan when they suspect a cardiac
anomaly. |
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| 7 |
Can all this not be done after birth of the baby?
Why should the fetus and mother be subjected to this ordeal? |
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a. The family gains from better understanding of the problem.
b. It gives them time to organize their resources, plan time and place
of delivery etc.
c. Treatment may be offered to certain conditions such as fetal heart
rate abnormalities. If these fetuses respond well to therapy, they
may be taken care of just like a normal newborn baby after delivery.
d. Some of the affected fetuses have better chances of responding
to treatment when they are helped early in life, immediately after
birth. Hence it is ideal to plan these deliveries in centres with
facilities for such care. Otherwise, valuable time is lost in transporting
sick babies. |
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| 8 |
Who else may utilize the services of the Fetal
Cardiology Unit? |
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Children too may be referred here for a detailed echocardiogram. |
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| 9 |
How to fix an appointment in this Fetal Cardiology
Unit? |
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The referring doctor or the patient may contact the
MediScan
appointment desk: 24663232 / 24663203 (or)
A special request for a Fetal Echo Queries regarding appointments
may als be mailed to the following id
E-Mail ID: fetalcardiacunit
[at] mediscansystems.org |
