MR of the brain in fetuses with congenital heart disease

Improved diagnosis and treatment of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) has led to increased long-term survival but, unfortunately, this is associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental problems in CHD survivors.

There are many possible causes for neurodevelopmental problems in children with CHD including chromosomal/monogenetic abnormalities and post-natal injury.

There are emerging data, however, that there is also an increased risk of pre-natal structural brain abnormalities in babies with CHD, either developmental brain abnormalities or resulting from failure of the brain to grow/mature properly in utero.

This study will confirm or refute the hypothesis that MR imaging of the fetal brain improves the diagnostic accuracy of detection of brain abnormalities in fetuses with CHD in utero; if so this would lead to better quality information for parents. We will also evaluate the clinical impact of the intervention in terms of prognosis and changes in management.