Melbourne Paediatric Cardiology

​Fetal Cardiology is a growing area of Cardiology practice. Structural heart disease is one of the commonest forms of fetal abnormality responsible for a significant number of infant deaths. 

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Identification of structural heart disease prior to birth (see fetal echocardiography) gives the best chance of survival for certain abnormalities and allows planning for delivery in a centre capable of managing babies with complex heart disease. It provides families with choice and time to prepare for a very different start to life with their child, who in some cases may need early medical or surgical intervention.

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Fetuses identified to have cardiac abnormalities can be followed throughout the pregnancy with postnatal review and investigations performed at the major private Obstetric Hospitals where appropriate. Our aim is to have families achieve as normal a start to life as is possible.

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