J Korean Pediatr Soc.  1999 Feb;42(2):203-210.

Estimating Fetal Cardiac Output by Doppler Echocardiography

• Hong YM

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.

Keyword

Fetal echocardiography; Cardiac output

MeSH Terms

Aorta
Cardiac Output*
Diastole
Echocardiography, Doppler*
Fetal Development
Fetus
Gestational Age
Heart Defects, Congenital
Heart Ventricles
Hemodynamics
Pregnancy
Pulmonary Artery
Stroke Volume