Excursion index of the septum primum as a parameter for diastolic function assessment of Thai fetuses: at 32 to 35 weeks' gestation.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the normal value of fetal diastolic function by the measurement of the excursion index of the septum primum (EISP) from 32 to 35 weeks' gestation in Thai fetuses. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Fetuses of normal Thai pregnant women were recruited for 2-dimensional echocardiographic measurements of the EISP (the ratio between the linear displacement of the flap valve and the left atrial diameter) from 32 to 35 weeks' gestation. All had a confirmed gestational age, normal structural scanning, and negative diabetic screening at 24 to 28 weeks' gestation. The 5th, 50th and 95th percentile of the EISP were demonstrated The relationship between the EISP and gestational age were determined RESULTS: Three hundred twenty-seven measurements were obtained The normal values of the EISP according to gestational age were presented as 5th, 50th, and 95th percentile ranks. The correlation coefficients (r) between the EISP and gestational age were 0.03. The EISP were not statistically different with advancing gestation. The 5th, 50th, and 95th of the EISP were 0.32, 0.45, and 0.59 respectively. The intra-observer variability was 5.5%. CONCLUSION: The normal values of fetal EISP in the Thai population from 32 to 35 weeks' gestation were established This could serve as a baseline data in detection of the alteration of left ventricular diastolic function during fetal life.

Interventricular septal thickness of Thai fetuses: at 32 to 35 weeks' gestation.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the normal value of fetal InterVentricular Septal Thickness (IVST) from 32 to 35 weeks' gestation in Thai fetuses. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thai pregnant women with normal fetuses were recruited for prenatal 2-dimensional M-mode echocardiographic measurements of fetal IVST at 32 to 35 weeks' gestation. All had a confirmed gestational age, normal structural scanning and negative diabetic screening at 24 to 28 weeks 'gestation. The IVST was measured from the 4-chamber view during diastole and systole. The 5th, 50th and 95th percentile of the IVST during Diastole (IVSD) and the IVST during Systole (IVSS) were demonstrated The relationship between the IVSD and IVSS and gestational age were determined RESULTS: A total of 410 measurements were obtained. The normal values of the IVSD and IVSS according to gestational age were presented as 5th, 50th and 95th percentile ranks. The correlation coefficients (r) between the IVSD and IVSS and gestational age were 0.11 and 0.12, respectively. The IVSD and IVSS were not statistically different with advancing gestation. The 95th, percentile of the IVSD was 4.51 millimeters (mm) (range = 4.26 to 4.74 mm) and IVSS was 6.23 mm (range = 5.96 to 6.68 mm). The intraobserver variability was 7.6%. CONCLUSION: The normal values of fetal IVSD and IVSS in a Thai population from 32 to 35 weeks' gestation were established. This could be used as a baseline data in detecting the asymmetrical septal hypertrophy during fetal life.

Comportamento do fluxo pelo forame oval em fetos de mães diabéticas com hipertrofia miocárdica / Bahavior of the foramen ovale flow in fetuses of diabetic mothers and myocardial hypertrophy

Introdução: O forame oval (FO) tem extrema importância na circulação fetal, pois conduz o sangue oxigenado proveniente da placenta diretamente ao átrio esquerdo. Frequentemente fetos de mães diabéticas(FMD) apresentam hipertrofia miocárdica(HM), com alterações na função diastólica ventricular esquerda, podendo acarretar modificações do fluxo pelo FO, com reflexo no índice de pulsatilidade. Objetivo: Testar a hipótese de que o fluxo pelo FO apresenta índice de pulsatilidade maior em FMD com HM do que em fetos sem HM de mães com ou sem diabetes. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal controlado comparando FMD com HM com FMD sem hipertrofia e fetos controles normais. Pacientes: 16 FMD com HM(grupo I), 36 FMD sem HM(grupo II) e 39 fetos controles normais(grupo III), A ecocardiografia fetal com Doppler foi realizada para obter o índice de pulsatilidade do forame oval(IPFO), através da razão velocidade sistólica-velocidade pré-sistólica/velocidade média. Foram utilizados ANOVA e teste das diferenças mínimas significativas, com alfa crítico de 0,05. Resultados: O IPFO médio foi de 4,07 mais ou menos 1,33 no grupo I, 2,28 mais ou menos 0,58 no grupo II e 2,78 mais ou menos 0,55 no grupo III. Houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos (p menor 0,001); os valores de IPFO do grupo I foram significativamente maiores dos que o do grupo II e III (p menor 0,001). Os valores do IPFO do grupo II não foram significativamente diferentes em relação ao grupo III (p igual 0,604). Conclusão: Fetos de mães diabéticas com hipertrofia miocárdica têm o índice de pulsatilidade do fluxo do forame oval maior do que os fetos sem hipertrofia miocárdica e fetos controles normais. Sugere-se que sua diferença ocorra por uma complacência diminuída do ventriculo esquerdo secundária à hipertrofia do septo interventricular.