Prenatal diagnosis of univentricular heart disease: Case report

Abstract

Introduction: Univentricular heart is a rare congenital cardiac malformation with a range of complex morphologies characterized by the presence of a single functional ventricle, with a fatal outcome in the absence of medical or surgical intervention. Early prenatal diagnosis is crucial for planning and coordinating management, which necessitates a specialized multidisciplinary team. We report the case of a 29-year-old woman in her second pregnancy, with no relevant personal medical history, at 25 weeks of gestation. During her prenatal check-up, an ultrasound revealed an echogenic image in the fetal cardiac chamber. The patient was referred to a high-risk pregnancy clinic and pediatric cardiology service, where a univentricular heart and fetal hydrops were diagnosed. Follow-up was conducted through serial fetal ultrasounds throughout the remainder of the pregnancy, which unfortunately ended in intrauterine fetal death at 38.6 weeks of gestation. The importance of early fetal cardiac screening between 18 and 22 weeks of gestation is emphasized, as it allows for the detection of congenital malformations and timely referral to specialized services. Early prenatal diagnosis enables the planning of interventions that increase survival rates and reduce long-term complications in neonates with this type of severe congenital heart disease.