Abstract

The NHS Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme (FASP) is a national screening guideline for the United Kingdom to detect fetal anomalies (1). In 2010 the national guidance was updated to include measurement of the ventricular atrium, among other alterations, to screen for ventriculomegaly. The guidance states if the atrium measurement was greater than 10 mm this should be reported and the patient referred for further assessment and managed as for a suspected fetal anomaly (2). This change was implemented at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire on 1^st April 2011. For the purpose of this audit all cases of ventriculomegaly, including borderline measurements, detected on ultrasound scanning at UHNS within the given time periods were included. The time periods used were between March 2010 – March 2011, before the introduction of screening for ventriculomegaly (Pre-FASP), and between June 2011 – June 2012 which was after the introduction (Post-FASP). Since the change it became apparent there has been an increased demand on fetal medicine services. The audit demonstrates a fifty per cent increase in referrals to the fetal medicine team for ventriculomegaly. Issues identified from the audit included an increased number of ventriculomegaly diagnoses, a greater demand on fetal medicine services such as additional investigations and extra ultrasound scans as well as a difference in pregnancy outcomes.