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SonoVCADheart – Sonography-based Volume Computer Aided Display
INTRODUCTION
Thorough evaluation of fetal cardiac anatomy is routinely performed in most countries throughout the world. Cardiovascular malformations impose a high perinatal mortality risk.1 Comprehensive examination of fetal cardiac anatomy requires experience and routine to show all relevant planes and anatomical structures, such as 4-chamber-view and outflow tracts, among others.2
GE Healthcare introduced SonoVCAD™heart (Volume Computer Aided Display heart) in 2006 on the Voluson® E8 ultrasound scanner, and in 2007 began migrating the tool to other Voluson systems. This tool helps examiners to visualize the anatomical structures of the fetal heart in a reproducible and consistent manner.
Until now, SonoVCADheart has been able to automate the process to assist the examiner in finding left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT), right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), stomach, venous connections and the ductal arch. The latest addition to these visualization possibilities is the aortic arch.
Author:
Ch. Stoeckl
GE Healthcare Zipf, Austria