Fetal Cardiac Function

Images provided by Dr Wadi Mawad, Pediatric Cardiologist at the Montreal Children's Hospital

Watch a wonderful presentation by Dr Mawad on Fetal Echocardiography Overview here.

Function during fetal life may be assessed by the “eye-ball” technique (subjective): 

• Myocardial thickening 

• Cavity area change 

• Annular excursion 

• Heart size 

Other signs reflective of fetal cardiac function and output:

• Dilated cavities 

• Effusions / Hydrops / Skin edema / Ascites 

• Fetal activity

• Doppler in ductus venosus, umbilical arteries, umbical vein and cerebral arteries may also inform on fetal cardiac function (see article below)

• Mitral Inflow-Outflow Doppler

• Atrio-ventricular valve inflow velocities

  • Inflow patterns 

  • IVCT, IVRT, MPI 

M-mode use in fetal life to assess cardiac wall motion. This may be used to assess septal and posterior wall hypertrophy, as well as the shortening fraction of the LV. This may be obtained in the long axis or short axis view. However, it is important to remember that during fetal life, the RV function is an important contributor to the combined cardiac output. M-mode may not be the best indicator of RV function, but may provide some insight on cardiac wall motions.