Use of fetal tele‐echo at small regional hospitals increases the rate of prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease

AbstractBackgroundTo improve the rate of prenatal diagnosis of Congenital heart disease (CHD) in Kentucky, four fetal tele‐echocardiography sites were established at regional hospitals in Kentucky: Ashland in 2011, Paducah in 2014, Lexington in 2014, and Owensboro in 2016.MethodsA 13‐year retrospective review of medical records at Norton Children's Hospital was performed to identify patients with CHD who had cardiac surgery or intervention prior to one year of age. The rate of prenatal diagnosis prior to establishing any fetal tele‐echocardiography sites was compared to the rate of prenatal diagnosis after the sites were established. Independent t‐tests were used to determine if there was a statistically significant increase in the rate of prenatal diagnosis.Results1287 patients had cardiac surgery or cath lab intervention prior to one year of age at our institution from June 2005 to December 2018 and were included in the analysis. Seventeen patients were excluded due to incomplete medical records. The rate of prenatal diagnosis prior to the implementation of the first fetal tele‐echocardiography site was 13.8% and after the sites were established, the prenatal diagnosis rate was 39.7% (p < 0.01).ConclusionIncreasing the number of fetal tele‐echocardiography sites at small regional hospitals in Kentucky was associated with a statistically significant increase in the rate of prenatal diagnosis for patients less than 1 year of age who had cardiac surgery or cath lab intervention at Norton Children's Hospital in Louisville. Fetal tele‐echocardiography is an effective method to improve the rate of prenatal diagnosis in regions served by small regional hospitals with limited access to fetal echocardiography.