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Updated: Jun 20, 2026
Murine Fetal Echocardiography
Published on: February 15, 2013
Reference Values for Fetal Cardiac Dimensions, Volumes, Ventricular Function and Left Ventricular Longitudinal Strain
Prashant K Minocha1, Erin K Englund2, Richard M Friesen1
1Division of Cardiology, Heart Institute, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
Background:
Recent advances in hardware and software permit the use of cardiac MRI of late gestation fetuses, however there is a paucity of MRI-based reference values.
Purpose:
To provide initial data on fetal cardiac MRI-derived cardiac dimensions, volumes, ventricular function, and left ventricular longitudinal strain in healthy developing fetuses >30 weeks gestational age.
Study Type:
Prospective.
Population:
Twenty-five third trimester (34 ± 1 weeks, range of 32-37 weeks gestation) women with healthy developing fetuses.
Field Strength/Sequence:
Studies were performed at 1.5 T and 3 T. Cardiac synchronization was achieved with a Doppler ultrasound device. The protocol included T2 single shot turbo spin echo stacks for fetal weight and ultrasound probe positioning, and multiplanar multi-slice cine balanced steady state free precession gradient echo sequences.
Assessment:
Primary analyses were performed by a single observer. Weight indexed right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) volumes and function were calculated from short axis (SAX) stacks. Cardiac dimensions were calculated from the four-chamber and SAX stacks. Single plane LV longitudinal strain was calculated from the four-chamber stack. Interobserver variability was assessed in 10 participants. Cardiac MRI values were compared against available published normative fetal echocardiogram data using z-scores.
Statistical Tests:
Mean and SDs were calculated for baseline maternal/fetal demographics, cardiac dimensions, volumes, ventricular function, and left ventricular longitudinal strain. Bland-Altman and intraclass correlation coefficient analysis was performed to test interobserver variability.
Results:
The mean gestational age was 34 ± 1.4 weeks. The mean RV and LV end diastolic volumes were 3.1 ± 0.6 mL/kg and 2.4 ± 0.5 mL/kg respectively. The mean RV cardiac output was 198 ± 49 mL/min/kg while the mean LV cardiac output was 173 ± 43 mL/min/kg.
Data Conclusion:
This paper reports initial reference values obtained by cardiac MRI in healthy developing third trimester fetuses. MRI generally resulted in slightly larger indexed values (by z-score) compared to reports in literature using fetal echocardiography.
Evidence Level:
1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.
