Fetal Speckle Tracking Echocardiography: A Comparison Between Fetuses with Normal Heart and Those With Heart Disease

Objective: The aim of our study was to compare left ventricular function in normal fetal hearts and those with cardiac abnormalities using 2D and 4D e-STIC approach.

Methods: We recruited 63 fetuses between 20- and 40- weeks, including twenty-nine affected by heart disease. All measurements were performed by two sonographers experienced in fetal echocardiography. We compared different parameters obtained by 2-dimensional and 4D e-STIC method in normal fetal hearts and those with cardiac defects. We focused on left ventricular global strain, left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular length and area in end-systole and end-diastole, and left ventricular fractional area change. Differences between categorical variables were analyzed by using Chi-Quadro Test, while continuous variables by one-way ANOVA Test.

Results: Firstly, no differences were proved between healthy and affected fetuses, regardless of the applied technique. Similarly, fetal strain values did not differ between the affected fetuses distinguished according to the kind of pathology.

Conclusion: In our cohort, 2D and 4D e-STIC imaging techniques have shown similar results for each parameter. We did not find differences between healthy fetuses and those with heart disease because congenital heart disease included did not affect left ventricular systolic function.

Keywords: Echocardiography; Fetal echocardiography; Speckle tracking; Strain; STIC