All issues > Volume 42(2); 1999

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1999;42(2):203-210. Published online February 15, 1999.

Estimating Fetal Cardiac Output by Doppler Echocardiography

Young Mi YM Hong¹

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

Abstract

Purpose
: Doppler echocardiography has been used to identify fetal cardiac anatomy and hemodynamics. It can estimate flow velocity, volume, and cardiac output. The purposes of this study were to estimate right and left ventricular stroke volume and cardiac output in fetus, and to see if there were any changes of right and left ventricular parameter with fetal growth.
Methods
: Internal diameter and time velocity integral of the aorta and pulmonary artery were measured during diastole in 101 normal fetuses between 18 and 40 weeks of gestation. Right and left ventricular stroke volume and cardiac output were estimated.
Results
: Diameter and time velocity integral of aortic and pulmoary artey increased significantly as gestational age advanced. Aortic velocity and integral were significantly higher than those of pulmonary artery. Left and right stroke volume and cardiac output increased significantly as gestational age advanced. Right ventricular stroke volume and cardiac output were significantly higher than those of the left ventricle.
Conclusion
: Fetal Doppler echocardiography is useful for evaluation of fetal cardiac anatomy and cardiovascular function. These normal parameters may be helpful when compared with fetal congenital heart disease.

Keywords :Fetal echocardiography, Cardiac output