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4D Fetal Heart Imaging

Fetal Echocardiography with STIC
The Beating Heart in Four Dimensions

STIC (Spatio-Temporal Image Correlation) captures the fetal heart as a living 4D volume — every valve, vessel, and chamber examinable from any angle, even after the scan is complete.

Dr. Kunda Shahane — MBBS, MS, FIFM, FMF (London)Central India's First Fetal Medicine Specialist · GE Voluson Signature Expert with STIC
Timing18–24 Wks
TechnologySTIC 4D
AI AssistfetalHS
Duration45–75 Min
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Understanding STIC Technology

What Is STIC — and Why Does It Matter for Your Baby's Heart?

STIC (Spatio-Temporal Image Correlation) is an advanced imaging technology on the GE Voluson Signature Expert that acquires a complete 4D volumetric dataset of the beating fetal heart in a single sweep. Unlike standard 2D echocardiography — where the doctor sees the heart in real time only — STIC captures the heart as a three-dimensional volume that can be reviewed, rotated, and interrogated in any plane, even after the patient has gone home.

Think of it as the difference between a photograph and a sculpture. Standard echo gives you a photograph — one view, at one moment. STIC gives you the sculpture — every surface, every angle, examinable from all directions. For complex congenital heart defects where the spatial relationship between great vessels and chambers is the key to diagnosis, STIC is invaluable.

Combined with fetalHS AI on the GE Voluson Signature Expert, Dr. Kunda Shahane achieves the most thorough fetal cardiac evaluation available in Central India.

❤️ Echo with STIC — At a Glance
TechnologySTIC 4D + fetalHS AI on GE Voluson Signature Expert
Optimal timing18–24 weeks (early echo possible 14–16 weeks)
Duration45–75 minutes
Risk to babyNone — ultrasound only
AI assistancefetalHS — step-by-step cardiac protocol
Post-scan analysisSTIC volume reviewed offline for complex findings
Performed byDr. Kunda Shahane, FIFM
Technology Comparison

Standard Fetal Echo vs Echo with STIC

Both are performed at Mayflower Clinic. Dr. Kunda Shahane recommends STIC when a cardiac finding is complex or when a 3D volume would add diagnostic value.

Standard 2D Echo

Real-Time Cardiac Imaging

  • Examines heart in real time during the scan
  • Multiple standard 2D planes imaged sequentially
  • Colour Doppler blood flow assessment in all views
  • M-mode for heart rate and rhythm
  • Excellent for most congenital heart conditions
  • Typically 45–60 minutes
Echo with STIC — Enhanced

4D Volumetric Cardiac Analysis

  • Captures complete 4D heart volume in seconds
  • Volume reviewed offline in any plane after the scan
  • Spatial relationships between structures visible from all angles
  • Especially powerful for conotruncal defects and TGA
  • Volume can be shared with paediatric cardiologists for review
  • fetalHS AI ensures no cardiac view is missed
Detailed Assessment

What Dr. Kunda Examines — Systematically, Structure by Structure

4-Chamber ViewSize, symmetry, wall thickness of all four chambers — the foundation of every cardiac assessment
Ventricular Outflow TractsLeft (LVOT → aorta) and right (RVOT → pulmonary artery) — critical for detecting conotruncal defects
Great Vessel RelationshipAorta and pulmonary artery — size ratio, spatial relationship, and crossing pattern (STIC adds critical 3D perspective)
3-Vessel Trachea View (3VT)Aorta, pulmonary artery, and superior vena cava in one plane — coarctation, interrupted arch, and TGA screening
Ventricular SeptumComplete assessment for VSD — muscular, perimembranous, outlet, and inlet types across all planes
Atrial Septum & Foramen OvaleNormal foramen ovale flap movement; ASD detection in the interatrial septum
Atrioventricular ValvesTricuspid and mitral valve morphology, position, and function — Ebstein's anomaly, AVSD
Pulmonary VeinsAll four pulmonary veins connecting to the left atrium — TAPVR detection
Cardiac Axis & PositionNormal left axis 45° ± 20°; displacement suggests intrathoracic mass or diaphragmatic hernia
Heart Rate & Rhythm (M-Mode)Regular rhythm, SVT, heart block, ectopics — arrhythmia characterisation
Colour Doppler — All StructuresBlood flow direction and velocity through all cardiac structures — regurgitation, stenosis, shunts
Pericardial EffusionFluid around the heart — sign of hydrops, infection, or structural abnormality
Diagnostic Reach

Congenital Heart Conditions This Scan Can Detect

🔴VSD — Ventricular Septal DefectHole in the wall between ventricles — most common congenital heart defect
🔴Tetralogy of FallotFour-part defect — VSD, overriding aorta, RVOT obstruction, right ventricular hypertrophy
🔴TGA — Transposition of Great ArteriesAorta and pulmonary artery are transposed — STIC uniquely visualises this relationship
🔴HLHS — Hypoplastic Left Heart SyndromeSeverely underdeveloped left heart — one of the most serious congenital cardiac conditions
🔴Coarctation of AortaNarrowing of the aorta — ventricular size asymmetry and aortic arch assessment
🔴AVSD — Atrioventricular Septal DefectCommon in Down syndrome — affects both AV valves and interatrial/interventricular septa
🔴Pulmonary Atresia / StenosisAbsent or narrowed pulmonary outflow — varying severity with different surgical implications
🔴Ebstein's AnomalyDownward displacement of tricuspid valve — often associated with maternal lithium use
🔴Cardiac ArrhythmiasSVT, complete heart block, ectopics — characterised by M-mode and rhythm analysis

🤖 fetalHS + STIC — AI-Guided 4D Cardiac Imaging

The GE Voluson Signature Expert combines two powerful technologies to give Dr. Kunda Shahane the most comprehensive fetal cardiac assessment available anywhere in Vidarbha.

fetalHS AI ProtocolStep-by-step guided assessment ensures every required cardiac view is captured systematically — no plane missed, no structure overlooked
STIC 4D VolumeOne-sweep acquisition captures the beating heart in 4D — reviewed offline in any plane, rotated and interrogated after the scan
Colour Doppler + HD-FlowGraphicflow Doppler visualises blood flow direction and velocity through all cardiac structures simultaneously
Speed + AccuracyfetalHS reduces cardiac examination time by up to 48% — meaning Dr. Kunda's attention focuses on analysis, not acquisition
Who Needs Fetal Echo with STIC

When Is This Scan Recommended?

Suspected cardiac abnormality on anomaly scanAny cardiac finding on the routine scan — abnormal 4-chamber view, outflow tract, axis, or rhythm
Family history of congenital heart diseaseA parent or sibling with a congenital cardiac defect increases the recurrence risk significantly
Maternal diabetes (pre-gestational)Pre-existing diabetes increases the risk of cardiac defects — detailed echocardiography is routine in this setting
Increased NT (>3.5mm) at first trimesterSignificantly elevated NT is associated with congenital heart defects even when chromosomes are normal
Chromosomal abnormality identifiedOver 50% of babies with Down syndrome have a cardiac defect — detailed echo is essential for planning
Fetal arrhythmia on routine scanIrregular fetal heartbeat — M-mode and Doppler characterise the arrhythmia and determine need for treatment
Maternal SLE / LupusAnti-Ro/SS-A antibodies can cause complete congenital heart block — serial monitoring is required
Monochorionic twin pregnancyTTTS can lead to cardiomegaly and cardiac dysfunction in the recipient twin — serial cardiac assessment
Learn More

Fetal Echocardiography — Explained by Dr. Kunda Shahane

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

What is STIC in fetal echocardiography?
STIC stands for Spatio-Temporal Image Correlation. It acquires a 4D volume of the beating fetal heart in a single sweep. This volume can be reviewed offline in any plane — allowing the heart to be examined from angles that aren't achievable during the live scan. Standard 2D echocardiography shows the heart in real time only; STIC captures it permanently in three dimensions for thorough post-scan analysis.
How is STIC different from a standard fetal echo?
Standard 2D echo examines each cardiac plane in real time. STIC adds a 4D volumetric dimension — a single acquisition captures the entire beating heart, which can then be rotated and interrogated in any plane afterward. For complex cardiac defects where spatial relationships between great vessels and chambers are critical, STIC significantly improves diagnostic accuracy.
When is fetal echo with STIC recommended?
It is recommended in the same situations as standard fetal echocardiography — suspected cardiac finding on anomaly scan, family history of CHD, maternal diabetes or lupus, increased NT, chromosomal abnormality, arrhythmia, hydrops, or monochorionic twins. STIC is particularly valuable for complex or conotruncal defects where 3D spatial relationships are diagnostically important.
What conditions can fetal echo with STIC detect?
All forms of congenital heart disease — including VSD, ASD, Tetralogy of Fallot, Transposition of Great Arteries (TGA), Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), coarctation of aorta, pulmonary atresia, AVSD, Ebstein's anomaly, and cardiac arrhythmias. STIC is particularly valuable for conotruncal abnormalities where the spatial relationship between the aorta and pulmonary artery is key to diagnosis.
What is fetalHS?
fetalHS (Fetal Heart Scan) is an AI-guided tool on the GE Voluson Signature Expert that assists Dr. Kunda Shahane in systematically evaluating all required cardiac planes in a step-by-step protocol. It ensures no cardiac view is missed and speeds up the examination by up to 48%. Combined with STIC, it provides the most comprehensive fetal cardiac evaluation available.
How long does a fetal echo with STIC take?
A complete examination typically takes 45 to 75 minutes. The STIC volume acquisition itself takes only seconds — but the systematic 2D assessment, Doppler interrogation, post-scan discussion, and report take additional time. Please allow 75–90 minutes for your appointment including pre- and post-scan discussions.
"Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect — and it is the one where prenatal diagnosis matters most. Knowing about a cardiac condition before birth changes everything: the place of delivery, the immediate postnatal plan, and the family's readiness. STIC allows me to examine the fetal heart with a depth and precision that was not possible a decade ago. When a cardiac finding is complex, I want to turn the heart in every direction until I understand it completely. That understanding is what I then bring to the family."
— Dr. Kunda Shahane, MBBS, MS (Obs & Gynae), FIFM, FMF (London)
Fetal Medicine Specialist, Mayflower Clinic, Nagpur
Related Services
Standard Fetal Echocardiography Anomaly Scan Fetal Neurosonography Colour Doppler Genetic Counselling All Pregnancy Scans 👩‍⚕️ Dr. Kunda Shahane

Referred for Fetal Echocardiography?

Send your anomaly scan report on WhatsApp — we will advise on the most appropriate type of echo for your situation.

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⚖️ PCPNDT Act Notice

Mayflower Fetal Medicine Centre strictly complies with the PCPNDT Act, 1994. All ultrasound services are performed exclusively for lawful medical indications. Sex determination is prohibited by law and is not performed at this centre.

Medical Disclaimer: This page is for patient education only. Please consult Dr. Kunda Shahane for advice specific to your pregnancy and cardiac findings.