Assessment of fetal ventricular volume and systolic function using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography

Abstract

Objective To discuss the worthiness of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography in researching normal fetal heart ventricle growth and systolic function. Methods End-systolic volume(EDV),end-diastolic volume(ESV), struggle volume(SV) and ejection fraction(EF) of 54 normal fetal were acquired from 3-D data by Qlab software. The relation between ventricular growth with pregnant week was analysed and the difference of the volume and systolic function between left ventricle with right ventricle were compared. Results Ventricular volume of normal fetal heart (EDV,ESV,SV) were all increased with the gestational ages,there was linear relativity between them,while EF was not increased with pregnant weeks,there was no linear relativity between them. There was no statistics difference on EDV and ESV between left ventricle and right ventricle, while there was statistics difference on SV, EF between them. Conclusions The image of fetal endocarium could be derived clearly by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography, which help to get fetal heart ventricular volume and to study fetal heart growth and function. Key words: Echocardiography,real-time three-dimension; Ventricular function; Fetal heart