In-utero screening and early detection of congenital heart defects play an important role in ensuring a safe and well-prepared delivery for the mother, while also allowing timely planning for care and intervention immediately after birth.
This was stated by Professor Mark Sklansky, one of the world’s leading experts in fetal cardiology, Director of the Fetal Cardiology Program, Medical Director of the Pediatric Heart Center, and Co-Director of the Congenital and Pediatric Heart Program at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, David Geffen School of Medicine – UCLA, USA, during the “First Intensive Training Course on Fetal Echocardiography” held on March 9, 2025, at the Tam Anh Research Institute (TAMRI), Tam Anh General Hospital.
The conference attracted nearly 200 specialists and physicians attending in person and around 300 others participating online. The event brought together leading experts from around the world and Vietnam in the fields of fetal echocardiography and congenital heart disease, such as:
Professor Mark Sklansky, the world’s leading expert in fetal cardiology and congenital heart disease, shared his professional experience with hundreds of specialists and physicians at the conference.
Congenital heart defects are among the most common fetal abnormalities, affecting approximately 1% of newborns. In Vietnam, an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 children are born each year with congenital heart defects. It is estimated that about 25% of these cases involve critical heart defects, which are the leading cause of death and other health complications in children related to congenital anomalies.
According to Dr. Ha To Nguyen, MSc, Director of the Fetal Medicine Center at Tam Anh HCMC General Hospital, one of the major challenges in fetal echocardiography is the risk of missing heart defects due to the fetus being in an unfavorable position or limitations in ultrasound equipment quality. Particularly around the 22nd week of pregnancy, the fetal heart is extremely small, about the size of a VND 5,000 coin, yet it has a highly complex structure and is among the most common sites for congenital abnormalities. This requires doctors performing the ultrasound to use advanced machines with specialized probes and possess in-depth skills to detect fetal heart abnormalities early, before birth.
Advanced ultrasound systems play a key role in improving the early detection of congenital heart defects. Next-generation ultrasound machines integrated with artificial intelligence (AI) and 3D/4D imaging technology help doctors accurately diagnose structural abnormalities in the fetal heart and blood vessels. The use of cutting-edge equipment such as the Voluson Expert 22 and HERA W10 provides high-resolution imaging, allowing physicians to assess fetal cardiac parameters in detail and with more clarity, while also reducing scan time and improving diagnostic accuracy.
Dr. Nguyen also noted that fetal heart defects are often associated with other structural or genetic abnormalities (chromosomal disorders or gene mutations). Therefore, when an ultrasound detects a fetal heart defect, doctors should also recommend genetic testing. If the fetus has a heart defect along with other serious abnormalities, pregnancy termination may be considered. In many cases, fetal heart abnormalities can be the first sign that leads doctors to identify underlying genetic mutations or additional structural defects.
In cases where the fetus has an isolated congenital heart defect, early detection allows doctors to prepare the best possible delivery conditions for the mother, ensure optimal care for the baby immediately after birth, and plan timely interventions or surgery to prevent the condition from worsening. At Tam Anh General Hospital, when a fetal heart abnormality is detected, fetal medicine doctors work closely with specialists in obstetrics, neonatology, pediatrics, and congenital heart disease departments to develop an appropriate monitoring and treatment plan, helping to minimize complications that could affect the child’s long-term health.
Dr. Ha To Nguyen, MSc, Director of the Fetal Medicine Center at Tam Anh HCMC General Hospital, spoke at the conference
Sharing the same perspective as Dr. Ha To Nguyen, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Nguyen Vinh, PhD, Director of the Cardiology Center at Tam Anh HCMC General Hospital, noted that not all children with congenital heart defects require immediate intervention after birth; some may only need treatment later in life. Early detection of congenital defects during pregnancy allows doctors to better anticipate the prognosis, giving them time to prepare appropriate plans for intervention, surgery, or postnatal care for the child.
One example is a baby girl who was diagnosed with a severe heart defect at 17 weeks of pregnancy. She had a large ventricular septal defect and hypoplastic aorta. Although many hospitals had concluded that her chances of survival were extremely slim, her family did not give up hope and turned to Tam Anh HCMC General Hospital. After a multidisciplinary consultation and treatment planning by specialists in Obstetrics, Cardiology, and Neonatology at the hospital, the baby successfully underwent a 5-hour heart surgery at just 7 days old.
Tam Anh General Hospital system, with its strength in multidisciplinary care, comprehensive facilities, state-of-the-art equipment, and a team of highly skilled, experienced doctors, is fully equipped to provide specialized and integrated care for congenital heart disease, ranging from early detection of heart defects during pregnancy to postnatal interventions and surgical treatment. “This plays a vital role in saving the lives of many children with congenital heart disease”, remarked Assoc. Prof. Pham Nguyen Vinh.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Nguyen Vinh, PhD, Director of the Cardiology Center at Tam Anh HCMC General Hospital, spoke at the conference.
According to Professor Mark Sklansky, to improve diagnostic quality, fetal echocardiography must be performed with proper technique, correct angles, and sufficient time to ensure that no abnormalities are missed. During the conference, he also conducted fetal echocardiography on 4 pregnant women.
The first case was Ms. Thanh, 32 years old, in her first pregnancy. A 21-week fetal morphology ultrasound at the Fetal Medicine Center, Tam Anh HCMC General Hospital, showed intrauterine growth restriction, with suspicion of an overriding aorta and a possible atrioventricular canal defect. During a detailed fetal echocardiography at 23 weeks, Professor Sklansky identified a partial atrioventricular canal defect and double outlet right ventricle. He recommended close monitoring of the pregnancy to assess fetal development. After birth, depending on the severity of the condition, the baby may require congenital heart surgery at an appropriate time.
Another case was a 31-year-old pregnant woman in her second pregnancy, currently at 34 weeks. During the fetal echocardiography, Professor Sklansky noted a size discrepancy between the right and left ventricles, thickening of the right ventricular anterior wall, mild tricuspid regurgitation, and localized pericardial effusion in front of the right ventricle. After birth, the baby will need monitoring for possible cardiomyopathy, mild tricuspid regurgitation, and mild heart failure.
In addition to the two cases above, Professor Sklansky also performed fetal echocardiography on two other pregnant women. The entire ultrasound procedures were broadcast live from the ultrasound room at the Tam Anh Research Institute (TAMRI) to the conference hall and streamed online, with nearly 500 specialists and physicians from across the country observing.
Professor Mark Sklansky performed a live fetal ultrasound examination on a pregnant woman, with support from Dr. Ha To Nguyen, MSc. The images were broadcast in real time to the conference hall
Professor Mark Sklansky noted that Vietnam has made significant progress in the early detection of congenital heart defects during pregnancy. However, expanding detection capabilities on a broader scale and optimizing outcomes for most children born with congenital heart disease remain major challenges, not only for Vietnam but for many countries around the world. Addressing this requires efforts from the healthcare system, including physician and healthcare staff training, as well as infrastructure development, to ensure timely detection of fetal heart defects in all regions, not just in major cities but also in rural areas.
Hundreds of specialists and doctors observed Professor Sklansky’s live demonstration of fetal echocardiography on a pregnant woman during the conference.
According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Nguyen Vinh, Vietnam’s medical field has made significant strides in the timely detection and treatment of congenital heart disease. Vietnamese doctors have mastered many advanced interventional techniques and have earned international recognition and high praise. The country’s hospital and healthcare infrastructure continues to improve, with modern equipment and advanced ultrasound technologies. In particular, cardiology-specialized hospitals have successfully performed numerous complex congenital heart surgeries, including severe defects, contributing greatly to the increased rate of early detection and offering new hope and better lives for many children.
Currently, Tam Anh General Hospital is utilizing many of the world’s most advanced equipment in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease, including: The latest-generation Voluson Expert 22 ultrasound system, featuring UltraHD resolution for extremely fast, detailed fetal imaging. It integrates 3D, 4D, and color Doppler technologies, helping to screen for structural abnormalities and vascular defects in the fetal heart and brain; The HERA W10 ultrasound system, optimized for superior-quality 2D, 3D, and color Doppler imaging, offering exceptional resolution and high contrast from multiple angles, providing clear, realistic, and detailed ultrasound images; 1.5 Tesla and 3 Tesla MRI systems, which allow detailed imaging of fetal brain development and help detect signs of abnormalities or other congenital defects. After birth, children may undergo various diagnostic procedures, including ECG, chest X-rays, transthoracic echocardiography, stress echocardiography, vascular Doppler ultrasound, and Holter ECG monitoring for heart rhythm evaluation. For children diagnosed with congenital heart disease requiring intervention, catheter-based procedures may be performed, including treatment for secundum atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, pulmonary valve stenosis, aortic valve stenosis, coarctation of the aorta, pulmonary artery stenting, ductal stenting, and diagnostic catheterization of major vessels.
Tam Anh General Hospital is one of two private hospitals recently designated by the HCMC Department of Health as a specialized-level facility. As a specialized medical center, the hospital is responsible for providing advanced outpatient and inpatient care, conducting intensive clinical training, engaging in specialized research and continuing medical education, and transferring medical techniques in diagnosis and treatment.
Tam Anh Research Institute
