A recent study has revealed that artificial intelligence programs can enhance embryonic screening for detecting congenital heart defects.
Using a tool from the medical company “Bright Heart,” researchers analyzed 200 ultrasound screenings obtained during the second trimester of pregnancy from women across 11 medical centers in two countries, including 100 screenings that featured at least one concerning result.
Seven specialists in obstetrics and gynecology and seven other doctors specializing in high-risk pregnancies conducted a review of each screening in random order, utilizing artificial intelligence and traditional methods, searching for results that might indicate a severe heart defect.
According to a report in the journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the doctors identified a greater number of suspicious anomalies in less time when using artificial intelligence compared to not using it.
Overall, the detection rate increased from 82% to over 97%, with an 18% reduction in reading time and a 19% improvement in confidence scores.
Dr. Andrey Ribarber from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in the United States stated, “Our study should stimulate and encourage future research on the capabilities of AI-supported programs to improve detection rates and reduce variation and inequality in identifying congenital heart defects globally.”
He added, “The future of prenatal diagnostic imaging is bright when AI software is used as an adjunct to the physician’s diagnosis.”
