[Studies on fetal heart and aorta by ultrasonic electroscanner and time-motion mode]

The ultrasonic studies were performed on 203 normal fetuses ranging from 16 weeks to 42 weeks gestational age. Structures of fetal heart and aorta were visualized by real time imaging. Fetal UCG were recorded by TM mode simultaneously under the guidance of an ultrasonic electro-scanner. Aortic root diameter, descending aortic diameter, left atrial dimensions, mitral valve diastolic excursion, left ventricular dimensions and right ventricular dimensions were measured in fetal UCG. The following correlations were obtained. Between gestational weeks and AOD : Y = 0. 225X + 0.245 r = 0.84 (P less than 0.005) Between BPD and AOD : Y = 1. 07X -0.568 r = 0.85 (P less than 0.005) Between gestational weeks and DAOD : Y = 0. 198X -0.522 r = 0.74 (P less than 0.005) Between BPD and DAOD : Y = 0. 92X -1.18 r = 0.72 (P less than 0.005) Between gestational weeks and LAD: Y = 0. 348X -1.09 r = 0.81 (P less than 0.005) Between BPD and LAD: Y = 1. 60X -2.04 r = 0.799 (P less than 0.005) Between gestation weeks and mitral valve diastolic excursion: Y = 0. 226X -0.636 r = 0.757 (P less than 0.005) Between BPD and MVDe : Y = 0. 877X -0.077 r = 0.701 (P less than 0.005) Between gestational weeks and LVDd : Y = 0. 472X -1.680 r = 0.884 (P less than 0.005) Between BPD and LVDd : Y = 2. 177X -3.655 r = 0.881 (P less than 0.005) Between gestational weeks and RVDd : Y = 0.517-4.218 r = 0.843 (P less than 0.005) Between BPD and RVDd : Y = 2. 272X -5.523 r = 0.817 (P less than 0.005) Between gestational weeks and LVDs : Y = 0. 390X -1.823 r = 0.774 (P less than 0.005) Between BPD and LVDs : Y = 1. 693X -2.696 r = 0.758 (P less than 0.005) Between gestational weeks and RVDs : Y = 0. 466X -5.334 r = 0.781 (P less than 0.005) Between BPD and RVDs : Y = 2. 010X -6.249 r = 0.738 (P less than 0.005) Mitral valve opening velocity was 197 +/- 63mm /sec. (mean +/- SD) in 92 fetuses. Left ventricular ejection time was 165 +/- 16 msec. (mean +/- SD) in 64 fetuses.