EP09.37: Prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of fetal heart malformation with abnormal number of pulmonary artery branches as the initial clue

To explore the diagnostic thought and application value of prenatal ultrasonography for fetal heart malformation with abnormal number of pulmonary artery (PA) branches as the initial clue. The generality and specificity of ultrasonography of 13 fetuses with abnormal number of PA branches were retrospectively analysed, comparing with the results of postpartum echocardiography, operation and anatomy. The abnormal sonograms and frequencies in three-vessel tracheal (3VT) section, three-vessel PA branch section and innominate artery (INA) coronary section were summarised. The 13 cases of abnormal number of PA branches include one PA branch (9 cases), three PA branches (4 cases). Of one PA branch, 4 cases of PA sling, 2 cases of absence of unilateral PA(1 case of absence of left PA, right PA derived from the main PA, the left one was connected to the left INA via the left ductus arteriosus (DA), right aortic arch; 1 case of absence of right PA, left PA derived from the main PA, the right PA was connected to the right INA via the right DA, left aortic arch),3 cases of unilateral PA originated from the ascending aorta (1 case of the right PA and 2 cases of the left PA both originated from the ascending aorta, the latter combined with right aortic arch). Of four PA branches, 3 cases of the isolated left subclavian artery connected to the main artery or branch of the PA via the left DA, 1 case of the isolated left INA connected to main PA via left DA, the right aortic arch connected to descending aorta through right DA. The frequencies of abnormal PA branches in 13 cases were 53.8%, 100% and 69.2%, in 3VT section, three-vessel PA branch section and INA coronary section, respectively. The 3VT, the three-vessel PA branch section and the INA coronary section can be used as the most important section for fetal heart malformations with abnormal number of PA branches as the initial clue. Mastering characteristics of ultrasonography of one and three PA branches can make a more accurate diagnosis relatively.