Fetuses In Study Group Research Articles

Prenatal Diagnosis and Postnatal Outcomes of Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava Associated With Mild Narrow Aorta: A Cohort Study.

To explore prenatal ultrasonic features and prognosis of the persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) complicated with mild narrow aorta. A retrospective study was conducted involving 1348 fetuses diagnosed with PLSVC prenatally between January 2016 and December 2019. Forty-five fetuses with PLSVC associated with mild narrow aorta were selected from the cohort as the study group and 79 fetuses with isolated PLSCV were recruited randomly as the control group. All clinical and ultrasound results, including images and parameters of cardiac structures, were reviewed retrospectively. General conditions, ultrasound (US) measurements, and fetal prognosis were compared between the groups. Aorta valve diameter (AOD), Z-score of aorta valve (AODz-score), aortic isthmus diameter (AOIsD), and pulmonary diameter (PAD)/AOD were significantly different in study group than control group no matter in the second or third trimester. Thirty-eight fetuses in study group were born with favorable outcomes after long-term follow-up. A total of 13.16% (5/38) remain mild narrow aorta and 3 of them showed smaller left ventricle after 3 years follow up. Prenatal AODz-score in infants remains mild narrow aorta after 2 years aged was higher than ones' aorta return to normal (P = .01), especially when AODz-score >1.725. Moreover, when prenatal ratio of AOIsD/left subclavian artery was <1.12, it was more likely that the aorta would remain mildly narrow at age 2. Fetuses diagnosed with PLSVC with mild narrow aorta had favorable prognosis. AODz-score and AOIsD/left subclavian artery may be two predictors that reveal the risk of a mildly narrowed aorta remaining after birth.

Retrospective analysis of prenatal echcardiography findings in cases of congenital heart defects: comparison with postnatal pulmonary hypertension revealed by lungs histopathology (2010-2015)

Abstract Introduction: It was retrospective analysis of prenatal echocardiography findings in fetuses with congenital heart defects, who died in our institution and had an autopsy exams in years 2010 - 2015. Material and methods: Among total 115 deaths the pulmonary hypertension based on histopathology criteria was present in 83 cases (72%) as a leading cause of their deaths. Out of 83 neonates 40 underwent prenatal echo, 43 did not, however in both groups there were similar types of heart defects. Results: The prenatal echo findings from study group (n=40), from the last echo before the delivery were compared with control group and group of HLHS who did survive neonatal surgery and were discharged from hospital. There were statistical differences between pulmonary artery/aorta ratio in fetuses in control group and fetuses in study group („pulmonary hypertension” after birth) (p=0,044). There were statistical differences between pre-delivery pulmonary artery/aorta ratio in fetuses in study group (with „pulmonary hypertension” after birth) and in group of fetuses with HLHS, alive &amp; well after first surgery (p=0,027). There were no differences between pulmonary artery/ aorta ratio fetuses in control group and fetuses with HLHS, alive &amp; well after first surgery (p=0,38) Conclusion: 1) Pulmonary hypertension was a frequent cause of neonatal deaths among our series of congenital heart defects 2) Dilatation of pulmonary artery (and increased pulmonary/artery ratio ) in fetal echo just before delivery may be an important risk factor for poor neonatal outcome in congenital heart defects.)