Khaberni - In a promising medical advancement, a recent study revealed that artificial intelligence can significantly improve fetal screening for congenital heart defects, enhancing the chances of early intervention and reducing future risks.
Researchers used an advanced tool from Bright Hart Medical to analyze 200 ultrasound exams conducted during the second trimester of pregnancy in 11 medical centers across two different countries, which included 100 exams with at least one suspicious result.
A team of seven obstetricians and gynecologists and seven high-risk pregnancy experts reviewed each exam, whether with the aid of artificial intelligence or without, to look for signs indicating a serious heart defect.
The results showed that doctors using artificial intelligence detected a greater number of defects, and at a faster rate compared to those working without it. Overall, the detection rate increased from 82% to over 97%, with an 18% reduction in reading time, and a 19% improvement in diagnostic confidence.
Dr. Andrei Rebarber from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in the United States said, "Our study proves the ability of artificial intelligence to enhance detection rates of congenital heart defects, reduce variability, and address global disparities in diagnostics. The future of prenatal imaging is bright when artificial intelligence is used as an aiding factor for doctors."
These findings highlight the growing role of modern technologies in preventive prenatal medicine, where artificial intelligence can support doctors in making faster and more accurate decisions, allowing for early intervention and saving the lives of fetuses with potentially lethal heart diseases if not detected timely.
