24‐segment sphericity index: a new technique to evaluate fetal cardiac diastolic shape

Abstract

Determination of SI for each of 24 segments of the fetal right and left ventricles provides a comprehensive method to examine the shape of the ventricular chambers. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Longitudinal Annular Systolic Displacement Compared to Global Strain in Normal Fetal Hearts and Those With Cardiac Abnormalities

“…Once the analysis for each ventricle was completed, the raw data were exported to an ASCII text file. The text file was imported into an Excel spreadsheet (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA) that had been programed to convert the X and Y pixel coordinates of the end‐systolic and end‐diastolic locations for the first (lateral wall) and 48th (septal wall) segments for each ventricle as previously described (Figure C) . The pixel length from the end‐diastolic and end‐systolic apex of each ventricle to the end‐diastolic and end‐systolic position of the midpoint of the lateral (segment 1) and septal (segment 48) segments was computed and converted to millimeters (Figure ) .…”

“…The text file was imported into an Excel spreadsheet (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA) that had been programed to convert the X and Y pixel coordinates of the end‐systolic and end‐diastolic locations for the first (lateral wall) and 48th (septal wall) segments for each ventricle as previously described (Figure C) . The pixel length from the end‐diastolic and end‐systolic apex of each ventricle to the end‐diastolic and end‐systolic position of the midpoint of the lateral (segment 1) and septal (segment 48) segments was computed and converted to millimeters (Figure ) . The longitudinal displacement fractional shortening was computed by the following formula (Figure C): …”

“…Unlike M‐mode and pulsed Doppler imaging, speckle tracking of the endocardium of the ventricular chambers is independent of the orientation of the 4‐chamber view to the US beam for optimization of measurements . Once the diastolic and systolic movements of the endocardium are measured by speckle tracking, an assessment of ventricular function can be accomplished . Changes in ventricular function involve the interaction of multiple longitudinal, tangential, transverse, and rotational movements of muscles acting synergistically with each other .…”

“…Of the several measurements available to examine ventricular function, one approach examines the longitudinal displacement of the basal septal and lateral ventricular walls toward the apex during systole. This approach has been accomplished with M‐mode, pulsed Doppler, and speckle‐tracking technologies . However, to our knowledge, no prior study has evaluated longitudinal displacement by combining the basal movement of the septal and lateral ventricular walls as they move toward the apex.…”

Evaluation of Fetal Left Ventricular Size and Function Using Speckle‐Tracking and the Simpson Rule

“…Differences in left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) size and function have been reported in various fetal disease states . In prior studies, we have reported using speckle‐tracking software to evaluate various parameters of the fetal LV and RV, including the area, 24‐segment transverse widths, 24‐segment transverse fractional shortening, fractional area change, as well as longitudinal basal‐apical contractility and displacement . These measurements reported from our group have not yet been applied postnatally.…”