Benefits of Prenatal Diagnosis
The benefits of prenatal diagnosis of SVCHD include an increase in options available to parents, such as seek- ing more information through education or testing, ter- minating or continuing the pregnancy, choosing their preferred delivery location, and involving the neonatal cardiac surgical center.Prenatal diagnosis of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is associated with improved clinical status
and survival.8 It allows patients to choose to deliver close to high-volume surgical centers, which decreases transport and presurgical mortality.9 In 2001, Mahle
et al10 reported that prenatal diagnosis of HLHS is asso- ciated with improved preoperative management and fewer perioperative neurological events. This study also demonstrated that operative mortality and hospital stay in neonates with HLHS were not affected by prenatal diagnosis.10 However, in 2013, Landis et al11 reported that prenatal diagnosis of all CHD did not have an impact on preoperative or predischarge mortality.