Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2025
Author Spotlight: Advancing Neonatal Cardiac Diagnostics with Echocardiography-Derived Blood Speckle Imaging
Published on: December 22, 2023
Left Ventricular Vortex Characteristics in Fetuses With Coarctation of the Aorta by Blood Speckle-Tracking
Dan Zhou1, Ran Xu1,2, Yushan Liu1
1Department of Ultrasound, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Insights
Fetal coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is associated with altered left ventricular (LV) vortex characteristics. Blood speckle-tracking (BST) ultrasound can assess these changes, revealing larger vortex area and width in fetuses with CoA.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Fetal Medicine
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a critical congenital heart defect.
- Understanding fetal cardiac function and flow patterns in CoA is crucial for early diagnosis and management.
- Left ventricular (LV) vortex dynamics may offer insights into cardiac remodeling in fetuses with CoA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess left ventricular (LV) vortex characteristics in fetuses with coarctation of the aorta (CoA) using high-frame rate ultrasound with blood speckle-tracking (BST).
- To explore the relationships between LV vortex properties and cardiac function/morphology parameters in fetuses with CoA.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study included 30 fetuses with CoA and 30 gestational-age matched controls.
- High-frame rate ultrasound with blood speckle-tracking (BST) echocardiography was used for quantitative analysis of LV vortex area, length, width, and position.
- Associations between vortex properties and ventricular function/morphology were determined using linear regression.
Main Results:
- The LV vortex was observable in 93% of fetuses via BST.
- Fetuses with CoA showed significantly larger and wider LV vortices compared to controls (P < .05).
- Vortex area positively correlated with LV sphericity index and isovolumic relaxation time, and negatively with mitral valve size.
Conclusions:
- Quantitative evaluation of fetal LV vortex using BST is feasible.
- Altered LV vortex properties, including increased area and width, are present in fetuses with CoA.
- These findings enhance understanding of unique flow patterns and early cardiac remodeling in fetal CoA.
Objectives:
The aims of this study were to assess the vortex characteristics of left ventricle (LV) in fetuses with coarctation of the aorta (CoA) using high-frame rate ultrasound with blood speckle-tracking (BST) and explore its relationships with cardiac function and morphology parameters.
Methods:
Thirty fetuses with CoA and 30 gestational-age matched normal fetuses were included in this cross-sectional study. The area, length, width, and position of the vortex in the LV were recorded and quantitatively analyzed by BST echocardiography. The associations of vortex properties with ventricular function and morphology were also determined.
Results:
Based on BST imaging, the LV vortex can be observed in 93% of the fetuses. The fetuses with CoA exhibited significantly larger and wider vortex than the controls (P < .05). Linear regression analysis indicated that vortex area was positively related to sphericity index of LV as well as isovolumic relaxation time (r = .52, P = .003 and r = .42, P = .021). There was a negative correlation between vortex area and mitral valve size (r = -.443, P = .014). No significant association was found between vortex area and myocardial performance index and aortic isthmus size.
Conclusions:
It is feasible to quantitatively evaluate the left ventricular vortex in fetuses by BST. The fetuses with CoA exhibited greater vortex area and width, and the altered vortex property is associated with geometry of LV. This will facilitate our comprehension of the unique flow patterns and early cardiac remodeling in fetuses with CoA.
