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Evaluation of cardiac function in the recipient twin in successfully treated twin‐to‐twin transfusion syndrome using a novel fetal speckle‐tracking analysis
Author(s) -
Harbison Anna L.,
Pruetz Jay D.,
Ma Stephen,
Sklansky Mark S.,
Chmait Ramen H.,
DeVore Greggory R.
Publication year - 2021
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.5835
Subject(s) - basal (medicine) , speckle pattern , medicine , cardiology , twin twin transfusion syndrome , speckle tracking echocardiography , fetus , cardiac function curve , pregnancy , ejection fraction , heart failure , biology , optics , genetics , physics , insulin
This study was designed to evaluate ventricular size, shape, and function in recipient twins following laser therapy for twin‐twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), using novel speckle‐tracking techniques. Methods This retrospective study enrolled patients that underwent fetal laser surgery for TTTS and had fetal echocardiograms (FE) performed pre‐ and post‐operatively (op), with adequate resolution in the 4‐chamber view for analysis, using a speckle‐tracking software, to compute the size, shape, and function of both the right (RV) and left (LV) ventricles. Values were indexed to published normal values. Pre‐ and post‐laser Z‐score values for each of the measurements were compared using the Student's t ‐test, with significance defined as P < 0.05. Results Fifteen TTTS candidate pregnancies that underwent laser therapy between 2010 and 2017, with adequate pre‐ and post‐op FE, were selected for the analysis. Post‐op FE at 28.5 ± 8.3 days showed a significant decrease in RV base dimension, increased LV base dimension, and improvements in many functional measurements: LV global and free wall strain, LV fractional area change, LV basal‐apical fractional change, and LV and RV 24‐segment fractional shortening (FS) of the basal segments. Conclusions Cardiac remodeling, following laser surgery in TTTS recipient twins, was demonstrated in the basal portion of both the RV and LV with improved biventricular function.