All issues > Volume 41(12); 1998

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1998;41(12):1639-1649. Published online December 15, 1998.

Cardiovascular Doppler Flow Waveforms in Human Fetuses

Young Mi YM Hong¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Young Mi YM Hong ,Email: 1

Abstract

Purpose
: Doppler echocardiography has been used to identify fetal cardiac anatomy and hemodynamics. It can estimate flow velocity, volume, and cardiac output. The purpose of this study was to look at cardiovascular waveforms in fetus and to see if there were any changes in Doppler parameter with fetal growth.
Methods
: Blood velocity studies were performed across the mitral, tricuspid, aortic, pulmonic valve, and umblical artery in 124 normal fetuses between 20 and 40 weeks of gestational age.
Results
: Early diastole(E), atrial contraction(A), and the ratio of E to A of mitral and tricuspid valve increased significantly as gestational age advanced, but there was no statistical significance. Mitral and tricuspid velocity were similar. Aortic velocity was significantly higher than pulmonic velocity. Peak velocity, flow integral, Acceleration time(AT), Ejection time(ET) and AT/ET in aorta and pulmonary artery increased significantly as gestational age advanced. Fetal heart rate decreased as gestational age advanced, but there was no statistical significance. Pulsatility index of umblical artery decreased significantly as gestational age advanced.
Conclusion
: Fetal Doppler echocardiography is useful for evaluating fetal cardiac anatomy and cardiovascular function. These normal parameters may be helpful in comparing with fetal congenital heart disease.

Keywords :Fetal echocardiography, Cardiovascular flow waveform