Fetal cardiac ventricular volume, cardiac output, and ejection fraction determined with 4-dimensional ultrasound using spatiotemporal image correlation and virtual organ computer-aided analysis

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to quantify fetal cardiovascular parameters using spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) and virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL). STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was performed in normal pregnancies (19-42 weeks) to evaluate ventricular volume, stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), and ejection fraction (EF). The CO was also expressed as a function of estimated fetal weight and biometric parameters. RESULTS: The following results were found: (1) 184 STIC datasets; (2) with advancing gestation, ventricular volume, SV, CO, and adjusted CO increased, whereas EF decreased; (3) right ventricular (RV) volume was larger than the left ventricular (LV) volume in systole (0.50 vs 0.27 mL; P < .001) and diastole (1.20 vs 1.03 mL; P < .001); (4) there were no differences between the LV and RV in SV, CO, or adjusted CO; and (5) LV EF was greater than the RV EF (72.2 vs 62.4%; P < .001). CONCLUSION: Normal fetal cardiovascular physiology is characterized by a larger RV volume and a greater LV EF, resulting in similar LV and RV SV and CO.