Retrograde aortic isthmus net blood flow and human fetal cardiac function in placental insufficiency

K. Mäkikallio, P. Jouppila, J. Räsänen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

71 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Retrograde aortic isthmus (AoI) net blood flow has been associated with diminished oxygen delivery to cerebral circulation. This study was designed to characterize the cardiac function in human fetuses with retrograde AoI net blood flow in pregnancies complicated by placental insufficiency. Methods: The control group comprised 43 fetuses in uncomplicated pregnancies. Study groups consisted of fetuses with placental insufficiency, and either antegrade (Group 1; n = 18) or retrograde (Group 2; n = 11) AoI net blood flow. Volume blood flows (Q) of left (LVCO) and right (RVCO) ventricles, ductus arteriosus (QDA), pulmonary arterial bed (QP) and foramen ovale (QFO) were calculated and their proportions (%) of combined cardiac output (CCO) were determined. Ventricular ejection forces were calculated. Blood velocity waveforms of the mitral (MV) and tricuspid (TV) valves were obtained. The proportion of left ventricular isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT%) of the cardiac cycle, and index of myocardial performance (IMP) were calculated. Results: In Group 1, QDA% was increased (P < 0.05) and QP% decreased (P < 0.05) compared with the control group, and QFO% was greater (P < 0.01) compared with the control group and Group 2. In Group 2, the distribution of CCO did not differ from that of the control group. Ventricular ejection forces were similar among the groups. In Group 2, the MV early filling/atrial contraction time-velocity integral ratio was greater (P < 0.05) compared with those of the control group and Group 1. In Groups 1 and 2, IRT% and IMP were increased (P < 0.001) compared with the control group. Conclusions: In placental insufficiency, fetuses with antegrade AoI net blood flow show a shift in RVCO from the pulmonary to the systemic circulation, and QFO makes up the majority of LVCO. Fetuses with retrograde AoI net blood flow fail to demonstrate these changes, suggesting a relative drop in the oxygen content of the blood entering the left ventricle.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)351-357
Number of pages7
JournalUltrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume22
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2003
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Aortic isthmus
  • Doppler
  • Fetal echocardiography
  • Fetal growth restriction
  • Placental insufficiency

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiological and Ultrasound Technology
  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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