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Recommendations for the training and practice of fetal cardiology from the Association of European Paediatric Cardiology

Part of: The Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 November 2024

Joanna H. Dangel Open the ORCID record for Joanna H. Dangel [Opens in a new window] ,
Sally-Ann Clur ,
Gurleen Sharland  and
Ulrike Herberg Open the ORCID record for Ulrike Herberg [Opens in a new window]
Joanna H. Dangel*
Affiliation:
Department of Perinatal Cardiology and Congenital Defects, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw, Poland
Sally-Ann Clur
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Emma Children’s Hospital, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Gurleen Sharland
Affiliation:
Fetal Cardiology Unit, Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, London, UK
Ulrike Herberg
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric Cardiology, University Hospital Aachen, University of Aachen, Aachen, Germany
*
Corresponding author: Joanna H. Dangel; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Prenatal detection of cardiac abnormalities has increased significantly over the past few decades, such that fetal cardiology has developed into a sub-specialty of paediatric and congenital cardiology. As this speciality develops further and extends across Europe and more globally, it is important to standardize the requirements for training and subsequent practice, to optimize prenatal diagnosis and perinatal care. In addition to the knowledge and technical skills required to make a correct diagnosis, the counseling of families after diagnosis and the planning of appropriate perinatal management is equally important. The aim of these recommendations is to provide a framework for both basic and advanced training for paediatric cardiologists wishing to practice as fetal cardiologists, as well as highlighting requisites for a fetal cardiology service. All aspects regarding training in fetal cardiology and service provision are addressed including diagnosis, counseling and management.

Keywords

fetal cardiologyfetal echocardiographyCHDsfetal arrhythmiaprenatal counselling
Type
Continuing Medical Education
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 34 , Issue 9 , September 2024 , pp. 1839 - 1848
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

Sally-Ann Clur is the Member of the European Reference Network for rare, low prevalence and complex diseases of the heart - ERN GUARD-Heart (ERN GUARDHEART; http://guardheart.ern-net.eu)

Gurleen Sharland is currently retired.

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