Education in obstetrical ultrasound - an important factor for increasing the prenatal detection of congenital heart disease

• OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of postgraduate education in obstetrical ultrasound on the prenatal detection rate of congenital heart disease. SETTING: Tertiary care center. POPULATION: Experienced and less experienced midwives performing ultrasound scans. METHODS: Number of fetuses and live born children with severe congenital heart malformations were extracted from patient records. The detection rates of experienced and less experienced midwives were compared following a postgraduate training program in obstetrical ultrasound. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The prenatal detection rate of complex congenital heart malformations. RESULTS: The prenatal detection rate for the entire unit increased significantly during the study period (32 vs. 69%, p<0.05). Following education, we observed a significant increase in detection rates (21 vs. 67%, p<0.01) among experienced midwives. In the group of less experienced midwives, we found a positive effect of training with considerably higher detection rates compared to results achieved by their more experienced colleagues prior to the program (40 vs. 21%). CONCLUSION: There is a clear improvement in the prenatal detection rates of complex heart malformations following a postgraduate education in obstetrical ultrasound. Similar training should be offered to both midwives and doctors performing routine scans to increase the standards of antenatal screening for congenital heart disease. © 2013 The Authors Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica © 2013 Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Reproduktionsmedicin och gynekologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Prenatal diagnosis

Ultrasound screening

Education

Congenital heart disease

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