Spectral Doppler, tissue Doppler, and speckle-tracking echocardiography for the evaluation of fetal cardiac function: an update / Doppler espectral, Doppler tecidual e speckle-tracking para avaliação da função cardíaca fetal: uma revisão atualizada

Abstract The functional assessment of the fetal heart has been incorporated into cardiac ultrasound screening as a routine procedure, encompassing fetuses with and without structural heart diseases. It has long been known that various cardiac and extracardiac conditions, such as fetal growth restriction, fetal tumors, twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, fetal anemia, diaphragmatic hernia, arteriovenous fistula with high cardiac output, and congenital heart diseases (valvular regurgitation and primary myocardial disease), can alter hemodynamic status and fetal cardiac function. Several ultrasound and Doppler echocardiographic parameters of fetal cardiovascular disease have been shown to correlate with perinatal mortality. However, it is still difficult to identify the signs of fetal heart failure and to determine their relationship with prognosis. The aim of this study was to review the main two-dimensional Doppler ultrasound parameters that can be used in the evaluation of fetal cardiac function, with a focus on how to perform that evaluation and on its clinical applicability.

Resumo A avaliação funcional do coração fetal foi incorporada ao rastreamento ultrassonográfico como procedimento de rotina, englobando fetos com e sem cardiopatias estruturais. Sabe-se, tradicionalmente, que várias condições cardíacas e extracardíacas podem alterar o estado hemodinâmico e a função cardíaca fetal, como restrição do crescimento fetal, tumores fetais, síndrome de transfusão feto-fetal, anemia fetal, hérnia diafragmática congênita, fístula arteriovenosa com alto débito cardíaco e cardiopatias congênitas (insuficiência valvar, doença primária do miocárdio). Vários parâmetros ecocardiográficos da doença cardiovascular fetal obtidos por ultrassonografia e Doppler têm sido correlacionados com a mortalidade perinatal. No entanto, ainda é difícil determinar a presença de sinais de insuficiência cardíaca fetal e sua relação com o prognóstico. Este estudo teve como objetivo revisar os principais parâmetros bidimensionais da ultrassonografia Doppler que podem ser utilizados na avaliação da função cardíaca fetal, com foco em como realizar essa avaliação e sua aplicabilidade clínica.

Risk factors for mortality in children with congenital heart disease delivered at a brazilian tertiary center

Abstract Objective: This study aims to investigate the incidence of postnatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) and the predictive factors for hospital mortality. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at a Brazilian tertiary center, and data were collected from medical records with inclusion criteria defined as any newborn with CHD diagnosed in the postnatal period delivered between 2015 and 2017. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the potential risk factors for mortality. Results: During the 3-year period, 119 (5.3%) children of the 2215 children delivered at our institution were diagnosed with CHD. We considered birth weight (P=0.005), 1st min Apgar score (P=0.001), and CHD complexity (P=0.013) as independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality. The most common CHD was ventricular septal defect. Indeed, 60.5% cases were considered as "complex" or "significant" CHDs. Heart surgeries were performed on 38.9% children, 15 of whom had "complex" or "significant" CHD. A mortality rate of 42% was observed in this cohort, with 28% occurring within the initial 24 h after delivery and 38% occurring in patients admitted for heart surgery. Conclusion: The postnatal incidence of CHD at our service was 5.3%. Low 1st min Apgar score, low birth weight, and CHD complexity were the independent factors that affected the hospital outcome.

Sonocubic fine: new three-dimensional ultrasound software to the screening of congenital heart diseases / Sonocubic fine: novo software de ultrassonografia tridimensional para o rastreamento das doenças cardíacas congênitas

Congenital heart disease is the most common fetal congenital malformations; however, the prenatal rate detection still is low. The two-dimensional echocardiography is the "gold standard" exam to screening and diagnosis of congenital heart disease during the prenatal; however, this exam is operator-depending and it is realized only in high risk pregnancies. Spatio-temporal image correlation is a three-dimensional ultrasound software that analyses the fetal heart and your connections in the multiplanar and rendering modes; however, spatio-temporal image correlation too is operator-depending and time-consuming. We presenting a new three-dimensional software named Sonocubic fine to the screening of congenital heart disease. This software applies intelligent navigation technology to spatio-temporal image correlation volume datasets to automatically generate nine fetal echocardiography standard views. Thus, this new software tends to be less operator-depending and time-consuming.

Doenças cardíacas congênitas são as malformações congênitas mais frequentes, entretanto, a detecção pré-natal ainda permanece baixa. A ecocardiografia bidimensional é o "padrão-ouro" para o rastreamento e diagnóstico das doenças cardíacas congênitas durante o pré-natal, entretanto, é operador dependente e realizada somente em gestantes de alto risco. Spatio-temporal image correlation é um software de ultrassonografia tridimensional que analisa o coração fetal e suas conexões vasculares nos modos multiplanar e superfície, contudo, também é operador dependente e consome muito tempo. Apresentamos um novo software: Sonocubic fine para o rastreamento das doenças cardíacas congênitas. Este software aplica a inteligência da tecnologia de navegação em volumes de spatio-temporal image correlation para automaticamente gerar nove planos ecocardiográficos padrões. Além disso, esta técnica tende a ser menos operador dependente e consumir menor tempo.

Débito cardíaco e fração de ejeção fetal por meio do spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC): comparação entre fetos masculinos e femininos / Fetal cardiac output and ejection fraction by spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC): comparison between male and female fetuses

OBJETIVO: Comparar do débito cardíaco (DC) e a fração de ejeção (FE) do coração de fetos masculinos e femininos obtidos por meio da ultrassonografia tridimensional, utilizando o spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC). MÉTODOS: Realizou-se um estudo de corte transversal com 216 fetos normais, entre 20 a 34 semanas de gestação, sendo 108 masculinos e 108 femininos. Os volumes ventriculares no final da sístole e diástole foram obtidos por meio do STIC, sendo as avaliações volumétricas realizadas pelo virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL) com rotação de 30º. Para o cálculo do DC utilizou-se a fórmula: DC= volume sistólico/frequência cardíaca fetal, enquanto que para a FE utilizou-se a fórmula: FE= volume sistólico/volume diastólico final. O DC (combinado, feminino e masculino) e a FE (masculina e feminina) foram comparadas utilizando-se o teste t não pareado e ANCOVA. Foram criados gráficos de dispersão com os percentis 5, 50 e 95. RESULTADOS: A média do DC combinado, DC direito, DC esquerdo, FE direita e FE esquerda, para feminino e masculino, foram 240,07 mL/min; 122,67 mL/min; 123,40 mL/min; 72,84%; 67,22%; 270,56 mL/min; 139,22 mL/min; 131,34 mL/min; 70,73% e 64,76%, respectivamente; sem diferença estatística (P> 0,05). CONCLUSÕES: O DC e a FE fetal obtidos por meio da ultrassonografia tridimensional (STIC) não apresentaram diferença significativa em relação ao gênero.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the cardiac output (CO) and ejection fraction (EF) of the heart of male and female fetuses obtained by 3D-ultrasonography using spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC). METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 216 normal fetuses, between 20 and 34 weeks of gestation, 108 male and 108 female. Ventricular volumes at the end of systole and diastole were obtained by STIC, and the volumetric assessments performed by the virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL) rotated 30º. To calculate the DC used the formula: DC = stroke volume / fetal heart rate, while for the FE used the formula: EF = stroke volume / end-diastolic volume. The DC (combined male and female) and EF (male and female) were compared using the unpaired t test and ANCOVA. Scatter plots were created with the percentiles 5, 50 and 95. RESULTS: The average of DC combined, DC left, DC right, FE right and FE left, male and female were 240.07 mL/min, 122.67 mL/min, 123.40 mL/min, 72.84%, 67.22%, 270.56 mL/ min, 139.22 mL/min, 131.34 mL/min, 70.73% and 64.76% respectively, without statistical difference (P> 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The fetal CO and EF obtained by 3Dultrasonography (STIC) showed no significant difference in relation to gender.