Emerging trends in the prenatal diagnosis of complex CHD and its influence on infant mortality in this cohort

Background Fetal echocardiography is the main modality of prenatal diagnosis of CHD. This study was done to describe the trends and benefits associated with prenatal diagnosis of complex CHD at a tertiary care centre.Methods Retrospective chart review of patients with complex CHD over an 18-year period was performed. Rates of prenatal detection along with early and late infant mortality outcomes were studied.Results Of 381 complex CHD patients born during the study period, 68.8% were diagnosed prenatally. Prenatal detection rate increased during the study period from low-50s in the first quarter to mid-80s in the last quarter (p=0.001). Rate of detection of conotruncal anomalies increased over the study period. No infant mortality benefit was noted with prenatal detection.Conclusions Improved obstetrical screening indications and techniques have contributed to higher proportions of prenatal diagnosis of complex CHD. However, prenatal diagnosis did not confer survival benefits in infancy in our study.