Toshiba Medical Systems recently sponsored a foetal echocardiography course held at the Postgraduate Centre, Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil. The course was organised by Kindrey Dennett, Midwife Sonographer, and lectures and workshops were organised by Dr. Orhan Uzan of the University Hospital of Wales. The workshops were held in the antenatal clinic at the hospital, with hands on, one-to-one training provided for all attendees.

Lectures consisted of normal and abnormal anatomy of the foetal heart and outflow tracts. The equipment used in the workshops was Toshiba’s Xario XG ultrasound scanner. With a reduced foot-print and excellent ergonomics, the system offers an abundance of features, including Toshiba’s unique, clinically proven technologies for superb image quality and a full range of imaging functions to allow the operator to visualise with precision minute details for fast, more accurate diagnosis.

Kindrey Dennett, Midwife Sonographer, commenting on the workshop says, "It is always a pleasure to organise a Trust event where multi-professionals get to work together for the benefit of the pregnant women that we care for. This is the fourth training session that we have held within the Trust, in the knowledge that Dr. Uzun’s advice and expertise is being cascaded down to our staff, with the detection rate for foetal cardiac anomalies rising. I look forward to arranging a similar workshop again next year."

As a result of Dr. Uzan providing many such lectures and workshop days throughout Wales, the pick-up rates for foetal cardiac anomalies by ultrasound remain high for the Welsh obstetric screening programme.

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