The ongoing debate over fetal anatomic surveys in the first trimester: a matter of timing?

Abstract:

Both new technologies and fetal medicine development have led the perinatologist to a new way of “seeing” the fetus in order to improve maternal and neonatal outcome. Thanks to the inversion of pyramid care, the first trimester anatomical fetal survey has become the moment to identify patients at specific risk of pregnancy complications. This review is based on the latest Literature that prove how ultrasound fetal anatomy can be related not only with chromosomal abnormalities, but also with structural defects, like cardiovascular ones, with developing brain injuries or with developing syndromic diseases; furthermore pregnancy complications like preeclampsia and preterm birth have been considered too.

Keywords::

• chromosomal abnormalities
• cardiovascular diseases
• first trimester
• ultrasound
• fetal anomalies

Acknowledgment

I want to thank my collaborators for their precious help with this review: Irene Carpita, Carla Vaccaro, Laura Angeli, and the Unit Director Angiolo Gadducci.

Disclosure

The author has no conflicts of interest to disclose.