| Abstract:Objective To evaluate the cardiac function of fetus with absent end-diastolic velocity in umbilical artery and normal fetus, using spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC), and also to explore the clinical potential of this examination. Methods By STIC technique, cardiac cycle ventricular volume parameters were recorded, including 26 fetus screened by conventional sonography as absent end-diastolic velocity in umbilical artery, and 103 normal fetus within the same range of gestational weeks. Using virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL), the current study assessed both fetal left and right ventricular cardiac function of the study group with absent end-diastolic velocity in umbilical artery, and the control group, involving ventricular end-diastole volume (EDV), end-systole volume (ESV), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), ejection fraction (EF), and cardiac output adjusted by fetal biometric parameters. Results In mean left and right ventricular EDV, ESV, SV, CO, and adjusted CO, the study group was significantly lower than the control group. In mean EF, the study group was significantly higher than the control group. Within the study group, the decreasing proportion of left ventricle was significantly higher than right ventricle, in mean EDV, ESV, SV, CO, and adjusted CO. While in mean EF, the increasing proportion of left ventricle was significantly higher than right ventricle. Conclusion Insufficient compensation of cardiac function can suggest the risk of subclinical cardiac failure. Spatiotemporal image correlation technique can be adjuvant means in evaluating therapeutic effect, and in decision on termination of pregnancy. |
