Gr. Devore et al., FETAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY - FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE IMAGING OF THE FETAL HEART DURING THE 2ND TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY, Journal of ultrasound in medicine, 12(11), 1993, pp. 659-663
Citations number
16
Categorie Soggetti
Acoustics,"Radiology,Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Objective. The four-chamber view of the heart is an important componen
t of the ultrasonographic examination of the fetus. However, during th
e second trimester of pregnancy the fetal heart cannot always be image
d in every patient. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the rat
e of successful imaging of the fetal heart during the second trimester
and to determine factors that may influence imaging. Methods. Seven h
undred and nine second trimester fetuses were examined and an attempt
was made to obtain the four-chamber and outflow tract views of the hea
rt. Analysis included multiple logistic regression models of the main
effects and interactions of ten candidate variables. Results. The four
chambers and outflow tracts were imaged in 643 fetuses (90.7%) and no
t imaged in 66 (9.3%). Fifty-two of 709 patients (7.3%) had had previo
us surgery. In the 52 patients with a history of previous surgery, the
heart could not be imaged in 18 (34%). Six hundred and fifty-seven pa
tients (92.7%) did not have previous surgery. Of this group, the fetal
heart could not be imaged in 48 (7.3%). In only one fetus in which th
e heart could not be imaged was it because of fetal position. Three in
dependent risk factors that influenced imaging of the fetal heart were
gestational age, maternal adipose tissue thickness, and previous lowe
r abdominal surgery. Increasing gestational age increased the probabil
ity of imaging the heart, whereas increasing adipose tissue thickness
and a history of previous surgery decreased the probability of imaging
the heart, Comments. When the fetal heart cannot be imaged during the
second trimester, these factors should be identified. Using data from
this study, the gestational age at which the highest probability of i
maging the heart can be determined if the thickness of the adipose tis
sue and a history of lower abdominal surgery are known.