Early identification of congenital heart disease using ultrasound represents one of the most significant recent advances in prenatal imaging as many major cardiac defects can be reliably identified during the first trimester. This course provides a comprehensive, evidence-based framework for the use of first-trimester ultrasound in the assessment of the fetal heart.

Overview

Course name: ATC3 First trimester - heart
Duration of course: 7 hours (+ supplementary materials)
Length of access for each course: 12 months
Certificates: 7 CME credits and ISUOG Certificate of Completion
Access: Online learning, learn at your own pace.  
Education level: Advanced 
Program language: English

Suitable for: Practicing obstetricians and gynecologists, trainees, fellows, residents, midwives, nurses, radiographers, sonographers, GPs and healthcare professionals providing antenatal care and performing ultrasound scans.

Why do this course?

This course should be undertaken to keep pace with one of the most important advances in prenatal imaging—the early identification of congenital heart disease using first-trimester ultrasound. With growing evidence that many major cardiac defects can be reliably detected when a structured examination is applied, the course offers a comprehensive, evidence-based approach that integrates embryological knowledge with practical scanning techniques, standard cardiac views, and current diagnostic criteria. By focusing on systematic assessment of normal cardiac anatomy, early sonographic markers of disease, and the clinical impact of early diagnosis, it equips ultrasound practitioners with the skills and confidence needed to improve diagnostic accuracy, support effective counselling and follow-up, and deliver care aligned with ISUOG Practice Guidelines.

Course description

Early identification of congenital heart disease using ultrasound represents one of the most significant recent advances in prenatal imaging, with increasing evidence that many major cardiac defects can be reliably identified during the first trimester when a structured ultrasound exam is applied. This course provides a comprehensive, evidence-based framework for the use of first-trimester ultrasound in the assessment of the fetal heart, integrating embryological principles with practical scanning techniques, common cardiac screening views and current diagnostic criteria. Emphasis is placed on systematic evaluation of normal cardiac anatomy, recognition of early sonographic markers of congenital heart disease, and understanding the clinical implications of early diagnosis for counselling, follow-up, and multidisciplinary care. The course is designed for ultrasound practitioners seeking to enhance diagnostic accuracy and confidence in first-trimester fetal cardiac assessment, in line with standards defined by the ISUOG Practice guidelines.

Contributors to this course

Course contributors: Maya Reddy, Ilaria Fantasia, Andrew Cowling, Katia Bilardo

Course materials: Simon Meagher, Rabih Chaoui, Julene S. Carvalho, Alfred Abuhamad, Liona Poon, Dario Paladini, Valentina De Robertis, Macin Wiechec,  Reem Abu-Rustum, Fatima Crispi, Prathima Radhakrishnan 

Learning objectives

• Understand the key embryological stages of normal cardiac development and their relevance to first-trimester imaging.
• Apply a systematic ultrasound approach to recognizing normal fetal cardiac anatomy in the first trimester.
• Identify major structural cardiac abnormalities detectable at first-trimester ultrasound.
• Utilize appropriate imaging planes and Doppler techniques to optimize visualization of the early fetal heart.
• Recognize indirect sonographic markers and associated extracardiac findings that may raise suspicion of congenital heart disease.
• Appreciate the limitations, pitfalls, and diagnostic accuracy of first-trimester fetal cardiac assessment.
• Integrate first-trimester

Key questions

• What standardized ultrasound views constitute a systematic and reproducible approach to assessing normal fetal cardiac anatomy in the first trimester?
• Which ultrasound and Doppler optimization techniques are essential for expert visualization of the first trimester fetal heart?
• What major congenital cardiac abnormalities can be reliably identified during first-trimester ultrasound examination?
• Which indirect sonographic markers and extracardiac findings should prompt suspicion of an underlying cardiac defect?
• What are the principal limitations and common pitfalls of first-trimester fetal cardiac assessment, and how can they be minimized?
• How should first-trimester cardiac findings be integrated into risk stratification, referral pathways, and follow-up imaging strategies?
• What are the implications of early detection of fetal cardiac defects for parental counselling and multidisciplinary pregnancy management?

Prices

Prices for ISUOG members

 
* Please note that this discount is NOT applicable to ISUOG members situated in a middle-income or lower-resource setting. We may need to verify your status, which may take some time to review.

Prices for ISUOG non-members*

* Prices for non-members does NOT include ISUOG membership. Join as an ISUOG member first for discounted prices to our online training courses (allow 24 hours for systems to update).

** Please note that this discount is NOT applicable to ISUOG members situated in a middle-income or lower-resource setting. We may need to verify your status, which may take some time to review.

Further information

Obstetrics – first trimester scan curriculum course list

Other courses in this series:

• ATC3 First trimester protocols
• ATC3 First trimester - brain and CNS
• ATC3 First trimester - face and neck

Other courses in this series that will be available soon:

• ATC3 First trimester - gastrointestinal and urinary
• ATC3 First trimester - skeletal
• ATC3 First trimester - cervix, placenta and adnexa