Early antenatal diagnosis of cardiac failure using Doppler ultrasound of umbilical artery

Background:  During the last 2 years, few prenatal ultrasonographic studies have documented a strong association between abnormal fetal venous return and chromosomal abnormalities. Articles in the English language medical literature were identified through MEDLINE. There is only one report of reverse flow pattern in the umbilical vein in severe intrauterine growth restriction at 29 weeks' gestation. The present case is the earliest documentation of this alteration in fetal venous return.