Fetal Cardiology

The Fetal Cardiology Program at the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Heart Center provides complete consultation services for expectant mothers whose unborn children have suspected or known heart problems.

Led by Erik Michelfelder, MD, a Pediatric Cardiologist at Children’s, the Fetal Cardiology Program is dedicated to providing exemplary care to the fetus diagnosed with structural or functional heart disease, as well as supporting the fetus and expectant family in a compassionate, comprehensive manner.

In 2021, our team treated more than 2,100 patients and performed more than 2,300 fetal echocardiograms, making our program one of the largest fetal cardiology programs in the country. With 13 offices across Georgia, we provide convenient access to families needing fetal cardiac care throughout the state. We have over 20 fetal cardiologists on staff with an average of more than 14 years experience in fetal cardiology. Our extensive experience in cardiac imaging allows each family to receive a comprehensive, specialized fetal cardiac evaluation, including a detailed plan and recommendations for future care to both the referring physician and family.

What can I expect from the Children’s Fetal Cardiology Program?

Once diagnosed, fetal heart problems are managed through an interdisciplinary approach within the Fetal Cardiology Program. Parents consult with cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons and cardiac interventionists as indicated for specific heart conditions. We collaborate closely with local and regional obstetricians, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, neonatologists and delivery centers to help make sure care planning and management of the fetus with heart disease is provided at the highest level. We also offer prenatal genetic counseling, social work support and interaction with specialized cardiac nurses.

Our team provides:

• Family-centered care.
• Resources for counseling and educating families.
• Detailed information to help families understand the diagnosis.
• Assistance in birth planning and post-natal management of the newborn.

Conditions we treat include:

• Atrioventricular (AV) canal defect
• Coarctation of the aorta
• Fetal arrhythmia 
• Atrial flutter
• Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)
• Heart block
• Fetal heart failure
• Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS)
• Single ventricle heart disease
• Tetralogy of fallot
• Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) 
• Ventricular septal defect

To learn more about our Fetal Cardiology Program, contact Kendall Haney, Clinical Nurse Coordinator, at 404-785-8745.

You may be referred to a fetal cardiologist for a fetal echocardiogram if:

• An ultrasound or anatomy scan shows a possible heart defect or problem in the baby.
• The mother, father or siblings of the baby have a history of heart problems.
• An abnormal or irregular heartbeat is heard in the baby.
• A genetic or chromosomal abnormality is identified in the baby.
• Abnormalities in the baby's other major organ systems, such as the brain, kidneys or lungs, are identified by ultrasound.
• The mother has a medical condition, such as diabetes or phenylketonuria (PKU), or a connective tissue disease, such as lupus or Sjogren's syndrome that can affect the baby's heart.
• The mother has been exposed to viruses, or certain medicines or drugs that can affect development of the baby's heart.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fetal Cardiology

What is early gestation fetal cardiac imaging?

Fetal echocardiography is a highly sensitive ultrasound test that provides high-quality, accurate images of a baby's heart. Typically, doctors will perform this test to assess the fetal cardiovascular system when a baby is at 18-24 weeks gestation, often in relation to the mother's 20-week ultrasound. However, due to significant advances in ultrasound technology that allows visualization of very small cardiac structures, this test may be done earlier in the pregnancy—as soon as 13-14 weeks gestation. The results of this test provide doctors with information about the heart anatomy and function that allows them to counsel families with pregnancies complicated by a fetal cardiac abnormality.

Why is early gestation fetal cardiac imaging important?

Early testing, such as maternal blood screening for fetal DNA or nuchal translucency screening, can now identify pregnancies at risk for chromosomal anomalies and/ or structural heart disease very early in the pregnancy. Echocardiography helps confirm a diagnosis, so families can know as early as possible if their baby has a cardiac abnormality.

Situations in which early gestation fetal cardiac imaging may be recommended include:

• Increased nuchal translucency
• Suspected genetic or chromosomal abnormality
• History of a prior pregnancy affected by congenital heart disease
• First degree relative with congenital heart disease

About our Heart Center's early gestation fetal cardiac imaging program

Our Fetal Cardiology Program now has the equipment and operator expertise to assess the fetal heart as early as 13-14 weeks gestation. We can provide families with reliable diagnosis of fetal cardiac abnormality in those high-risk pregnancies where early diagnosis is desired. Because early fetal cardiac imaging is a novel technology, we do recommend in most cases that mothers undergoing early fetal echocardiography have a repeat study at 18-20 weeks gestation to confirm the initial findings.

Our Fetal Cardiology Program team, as well as the Children’s Heart Center team of cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons who support the program, are dedicated to the health and well-being of children born with a heart defect. 

• Erik Michelfelder, MD, Director
• Kendall Haney, BSN, RN, Clinical Nurse Coordinator
• Laura Lei Castillo, BSN, RN, CPN, Clinical Nurse
• Joe Kreeger, RDCS, Lead Fetal Sonographer
• Erin Demo, MS, CGC, Genetic Counselor
• Linda Knight, MSc, Genetic Counselor

Cardiologists

• Wesley Blackwood, MD
• William Border, MD
• Brian Cardis, MD
• Andrew Dodgen, MD
• Matthew Ferguson, MD
• Brandon Harden, MD
• Glen Iannucci, MD
• Mohan John, MD
• P. Andrea Kropf, MD
• Clifford Wesley Lindsey, MD
• William Mahle, MD
• Rachel McKay, MD
• Andrew Porter, MD
• Sanghee Suh Ro, MD
• Ritu Sachdeva, MD
• Denver Sallee, MD
• Cyrus Samai, MD
• Divya Suthar, MD
• Benjamin Toole, MD
• Neill Videlefsky, MD
• Michelle Wallace, MD
• Timotheus Watson, MD

Cardiothoracic surgeons

• Paul Chai, MD
• Joshua Rosenblum, MD, PhD
• Subhadra Shashidharan, MD
• Fawwaz Shaw, MD