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ULTRASONIC ASSESSMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR GEOMETRY AND FUNCTION IN THE HUMAN FETUS
Author(s) -
Wadimiroff J. W.,
McGnie J.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1981.tb02221.x
Subject(s) - fetus , ultrasonic sensor , function (biology) , medicine , geometry , pregnancy , mathematics , radiology , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics
Summary A new technique of studying fetal cardiac geometry and function from two‐dimensional real‐time images is presented. A significant increase in left ventricular size with advancing gestational age was observed. Left ventricular cardiac output (LVCO) was 210±48 ml/min (Mean±1 SD) between 27 and 33 weeks and 336±35 ml/min between 34 and 41 weeks gestation. Blood flow (mean flow) in the descending aorta during these two periods was 365±80 and 490±65 ml/min. In four fetuses, the LVCO per kg birth weight ranged between 114 and 123 ml/kg/min and the blood flow in the descending aorta between 168 and 179 ml/kg/min. If total cardiac output is considered to be twice the LVCO, the proportion of total cardiac output being distributed through the descending aorta and placenta is about 75% and 45% respectively.