Premium
Influence of fetal respiratory movements on left atrial functional status
Author(s) -
Fátima Monteiro Pereira Leite Maria,
Zielinsky Paulo,
BenchimolBarbosa Paulo Roberto,
Nicoloso Luiz Henrique,
Luchese Stelamaris,
Piccoli Antonio Luiz,
Naujorks Alexandre Antonio
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
prenatal diagnosis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.956
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1097-0223
pISSN - 0197-3851
DOI - 10.1002/pd.2860
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiology , respiratory system , gestational age , fetus , apnea , left atrium , atrial fibrillation , pregnancy , genetics , biology
Objective Because fetal respiratory movements increase left ventricular compliance, we hypothesized that the left atrial shortening fraction increases during fetal respiratory motions. Methods A group of 26 normal fetuses with gestational ages between 28 and 38 weeks were assessed in a prospective cross‐sectional study. Left atrial telesystolic and presystolic diameters were measured during apnea and after five consecutive respiratory movements. Left atrial shortening fraction was obtained by the ratio: [maximal left atrium diameter (telesystolic) – minimal left atrium diameter (presystolic)]/maximal left atrium diameter (telesystolic). The mean of three measurements were considered. Two‐tailed Student's t ‐test was used. Results Mean gestational age was (mean ± SD) 30.7 ± 2.8 weeks. Mean left atrial telesystolic diameter in apnea was 10.6 ± 0.7 mm and during respiratory movements it was 10.5 ± 1.1 mm ( p = 0.98). Presystolic left atrial diameter was 5.2 ± 0.1 mm in apnea and 4.4 ± 1.3 mm during respiratory movements ( p < 0.001). Left atrial shortening fraction was 0.50 ± 0.05 in apnea and 0.58 ± 0.13 during respiratory movements ( p < 0.001). Conclusion Left atrial shortening fraction is higher during respiratory movements as a result of increased left ventricular compliance and consequent optimization of left atrial functional status. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.