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van den Wildenberg S, van Beynum IM, Havermans MEC, Boersma E, DeVore GR, Simpson JM, Steegers EAP, Go ATJI, Cornette JMJ. Fetal Speckle Tracking Echocardiography Measured Global Longitudinal Strain and Strain Rate in Congenital Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Prenat Diagn 2024. [PMID: 39367541 DOI: 10.1002/pd.6672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2024] [Revised: 08/23/2024] [Accepted: 09/04/2024] [Indexed: 10/06/2024]
Abstract
Fetal two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) is a novel technique that provides information on fetal heart function by measuring global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global longitudinal strain rate (GLSR). These features assess the longitudinal deformity of the fetal cardiac wall. 2D-STE is shown to be of prognostic value in children and adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). Therefore, its importance in fetal life should also be considered. This systematic review and meta-analysis provides an overview of the literature on 2D-STE (GLS/GLSR) in fetuses with CHD, focusing on the left and right ventricles (LV/RV). Findings indicated that LV-GLS was significantly lower in fetuses with coarctation of the aorta (CoA) and Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) compared to controls. Conversely, fetuses with a single left ventricle exhibited higher LV-GLS. RV-GLS was significantly lower in fetuses with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and ToF compared to controls. LV-GLSR was significantly lower in fetuses with CoA. Overall, considerable heterogeneity was observed, possibly due to differences in study design. More prospective longitudinal studies on 2D-STE in fetuses with CHD, considering heterogeneity parameters, could offer better insights into this promising technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah van den Wildenberg
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Fetal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ingrid M van Beynum
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, Erasmus Medical Center Sophia's Children Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Malou E C Havermans
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Fetal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eric Boersma
- Department of Cardiology, Clinical Epidemiology and Statistics Unit, Thorax Center, Cardiovascular Institute, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Greggory R DeVore
- Fetal Diagnostics Centers, Pasadena, California, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - John M Simpson
- Fetal Cardiology Unit, Evelina London Children's Hospital, London, UK
| | - Eric A P Steegers
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Fetal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Attie T J I Go
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Fetal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jérôme M J Cornette
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Fetal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Green L, Chan WX, Tulzer A, Tulzer G, Yap CH. Myocardial biomechanical effects of fetal aortic valvuloplasty. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2024; 23:1433-1448. [PMID: 38683446 PMCID: PMC11436463 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-024-01848-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Fetal critical aortic stenosis with evolving hypoplastic left heart syndrome (CAS-eHLHS) can progress to a univentricular (UV) birth malformation. Catheter-based fetal aortic valvuloplasty (FAV) can resolve stenosis and reduce the likelihood of malformation progression. However, we have limited understanding of the biomechanical impact of FAV and subsequent LV responses. Therefore, we performed image-based finite element (FE) modeling of 4 CAS-eHLHS fetal hearts, by performing iterative simulations to match image-based characteristics and then back-computing physiological parameters. We used pre-FAV simulations to conduct virtual FAV (vFAV) and compared pre-FAV and post-FAV simulations. vFAV simulations generally enabled partial restoration of several physiological features toward healthy levels, including increased stroke volume and myocardial strains, reduced aortic valve (AV) and mitral valve regurgitation (MVr) velocities, reduced LV and LA pressures, and reduced peak myofiber stress. FAV often leads to aortic valve regurgitation (AVr). Our simulations showed that AVr could compromise LV and LA depressurization but it could also significantly increase stroke volume and myocardial deformational stimuli. Post-FAV scans and simulations showed FAV enabled only partial reduction of the AV dissipative coefficient. Furthermore, LV contractility and peripheral vascular resistance could change in response to FAV, preventing decreases in AV velocity and LV pressure, compared with what would be anticipated from stenosis relief. This suggested that case-specific post-FAV modeling is required to fully capture cardiac functionality. Overall, image-based FE modeling could provide mechanistic details of the effects of FAV, but computational prediction of acute outcomes was difficult due to a patient-dependent physiological response to FAV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Green
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, L2 Bessemer Building, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Wei Xuan Chan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, L2 Bessemer Building, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
- BHF Centre of Research Excellence, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Andreas Tulzer
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Children's Heart Center Linz, Kepler University Hospital, Linz, Austria
- Medical Faculty, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenberger Strasse 69, 4040, Linz, Austria
| | - Gerald Tulzer
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Children's Heart Center Linz, Kepler University Hospital, Linz, Austria
- Medical Faculty, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenberger Strasse 69, 4040, Linz, Austria
| | - Choon Hwai Yap
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, L2 Bessemer Building, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
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Reitz JG, Meier JM, Berg C, Weber EC, Gembruch U, Wolter A, Sterzbecher V, Bedei I, Axt-Fliedner R. Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in fetuses with critical aortic stenosis before and after fetal aortic valvuloplasty. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2024; 310:817-824. [PMID: 38363396 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-024-07376-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Critical aortic stenosis (AS) in fetuses may progress to hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) with need for postnatal single ventricular (SV) palliation. Fetal aortic valvuloplasty (FAV) is performed to achieve postnatal biventricular (BV) circulation. However, the impact of FAV on fetal myocardial function is difficult to measure. Prediction of postnatal circulatory status and, therefore, counseling is challenging. METHODS Retrospective study of fetuses with critical AS who underwent FAV. Global Longitudinal Peak Systolic Strain (GLPSS) of the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) were retrospectively analyzed before and after intervention. Fisher's Exact Test and Mann-Whitney-U Test were used for univariant statistical analysis. RESULTS 23 fetuses with critical AS were included. After intervention fetuses demonstrated more negative LV-GLPSS mean values post- vs. pre-intervention (- 5.36% vs. - 1.57%; p < 0.05). RV-GLPSS was decreased in all fetuses, there was no peri-interventional change. 20 fetuses were born alive. Postnatally, 10 had BV and 10 SV circulation. Improved post-interventional LV-GLPSS strain values correlated with BV outcome (p < 0.05). Pre-interventional continuous LV-GLPSS values correlated with postnatal SV vs. BV outcome (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION In some fetuses, LV myocardial function assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) improves after FAV. Improved post-interventional LV-GLPSS correlates with biventricular postnatal outcome. Furthermore, pre-interventional LV- and RV-GLPSS correlate with postnatal outcome. Further studies are needed to asses, if pre-interventional STE parameters might predict which fetuses will benefit from FAV with postnatal BV circulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justus G Reitz
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Giessen, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Johanna M Meier
- Division of Prenatal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Giessen, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Christoph Berg
- Department of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Eva C Weber
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Ulrich Gembruch
- Department of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Aline Wolter
- Division of Prenatal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Giessen, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Vanessa Sterzbecher
- Division of Prenatal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Giessen, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Ivonne Bedei
- Division of Prenatal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Giessen, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Roland Axt-Fliedner
- Division of Prenatal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Giessen, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany.
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Medjedovic E, Begic Z, Stanojevic M, Aziri B, Begic E, Djukic M, Mladenovic Z, Kurjak A. Left atrial strain in fetal echocardiography - could it be introduced to everyday clinical practice? J Perinat Med 2024; 52:230-238. [PMID: 38095322 DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2023-0359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Prenatal cardiology is a part of preventive cardiology based on fetal echocardiography and fetal interventional cardiology, which facilitates treatment of congenital heart defects (CHD) in pediatric patients and consequently in adults. Timely prenatal detection of CHD plays a pivotal role in facilitating the appropriate referral of pregnant women to facilities equipped to provide thorough perinatal care within the framework of a well-structured healthcare system. The aim of this paper is to highlight the role of left atrial strain (LAS) in prenatal evaluation of fetal heart and prediction of structural and functional disorders. METHODS We conducted a comprehensive literature review searching PubMed for articles published from inception up until August 2023, including the search terms "left atrial strain", "fetal echocardiography", and "prenatal cardiology" combined through Boolean operators. In addition, references lists of identified articles were further reviewed for inclusion. RESULTS Our review underscores the significance of LAS parameters in fetal echocardiography as a screening tool during specific gestational windows (starting from 11 to 14 weeks of gestation, followed by better visualization between 18 and 22 weeks of gestation). The left atrial strain technique and its parameters serve as valuable indicators, not only for identifying cardiac complications but also for predicting and guiding therapeutic interventions in cases of both cardiac and noncardiac pregnancy complications in fetuses. Evidence suggests establishment of second-trimester reference strain and strain rate values by speckle-tracking echocardiography in the healthy fetal cohort is essential for the evaluation of myocardial pathologies during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS Finding of LAS of fetal heart is feasible and probably can have potential for clinical and prognostic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edin Medjedovic
- Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Sarajevo School of Science and Technology, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Zijo Begic
- Department of Cardiology, Pediatric Clinic, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Milan Stanojevic
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital "Sveti Duh", Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Buena Aziri
- Department of Pharmacology, Sarajevo Medical School, Sarajevo School of Science and Technology, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Edin Begic
- Department of Pharmacology, Sarajevo Medical School, Sarajevo School of Science and Technology, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Department of Cardiology, General Hospital "Prim. Dr. Abdulah Nakas", Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Milan Djukic
- Department of Cardiology, University Children's Hospital, Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Zorica Mladenovic
- Department of Cardiology, Military Medical Academy, University of Defense, Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Defense, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Asim Kurjak
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital "Sveti Duh", Zagreb, Croatia
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Green L, Chan WX, Prakash I, Tulzer A, Tulzer G, Yap CH. Pre-intervention myocardial stress is a good predictor of aortic valvoluplasty outcome for fetal critical aortic stenosis and evolving HLHS. J Physiol 2024; 602:663-681. [PMID: 38324229 DOI: 10.1113/jp285475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Fetal critical aortic stenosis with evolving hypoplastic left heart syndrome (CAS-eHLHS) causes biomechanical and functional aberrations, leading to a high risk of progression to hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) at birth. Fetal aortic valvuloplasty (FAV) can resolve outflow obstruction and may reduce progression risk. However, it is currently difficult to accurately predict which patients will respond to the intervention and become functionally biventricular (BV) at birth, as opposed to becoming functionally univentricular (UV). This prediction is important for patient selection, parental counselling, and surgical planning. Therefore, we investigated whether biomechanics parameters from pre-FAV image-based computations could robustly distinguish between CAS-eHLHS cases with BV or UV outcomes in a retrospective cohort. To do so we performed image-based finite element biomechanics modelling of nine CAS-eHLHS cases undergoing intervention and six healthy fetal control hearts, and found that a biomechanical parameter, peak systolic myofibre stress, showed a uniquely large difference between BV and UV cases, which had a larger magnitude effect than echocardiography parameters. A simplified equation was derived for quick and easy estimation of myofibre stress from echo measurements via principal component analysis. When tested on a retrospective cohort of 37 CAS-eHLHS cases, the parameter outperformed other parameters in predicting UV versus BV outcomes, and thus has a high potential of improving outcome predictions, if incorporated into patient selection procedures. Physiologically, high myocardial stresses likely indicate a healthier myocardium that can withstand high stresses and resist pathological remodelling, which can explain why it is a good predictor of BV outcomes. KEY POINTS: Predicting the morphological birth outcomes (univentricular versus biventricular) of fetal aortic valvuloplasty for fetal aortic stenosis with evolving HLHS is important for accurate patient selection, parental counselling and management decisions. Computational simulations show that a biomechanics parameter, pre-intervention peak systolic myofibre stress, is uniquely robust in distinguishing between such outcomes, outperforming all echo parameters. An empirical equation was developed to quickly compute peak systolic myofibre stress from routine echo measurements and was the best predictor of outcomes among a wide range of parameters tested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Green
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Wei Xuan Chan
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
- BHF Centre of Research Excellence, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Indumita Prakash
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Andreas Tulzer
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Children's Heat Center Linz, Kepler University Hospital, Linz, Austria
- Medical Faculty, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria
| | - Gerald Tulzer
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Children's Heat Center Linz, Kepler University Hospital, Linz, Austria
- Medical Faculty, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria
| | - Choon Hwai Yap
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Fluid Mechanical Effects of Fetal Aortic Valvuloplasty for Cases of Critical Aortic Stenosis with Evolving Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Ann Biomed Eng 2023:10.1007/s10439-023-03152-x. [PMID: 36780051 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-023-03152-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
Fetuses with critical aortic stenosis (FAS) are at high risk of progression to HLHS by the time of birth (and are thus termed "evolving HLHS"). An in-utero catheter-based intervention, fetal aortic valvuloplasty (FAV), has shown promise as an intervention strategy to circumvent the progression, but its impact on the heart's biomechanics is not well understood. We performed patient-specific computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations based on 4D fetal echocardiography to assess the changes in the fluid mechanical environment in the FAS left ventricle (LV) directly before and 2 days after FAV. Echocardiograms of five FAS cases with technically successful FAV were retrospectively analysed. FAS compromised LV stroke volume and ejection fraction, but FAV rescued it significantly. Calculations to match simulations to clinical measurements showed that FAV approximately doubled aortic valve orifice area, but it remained much smaller than in healthy hearts. Diseased LVs had mildly stenotic mitral valves, which generated fast and narrow diastolic mitral inflow jet and vortex rings that remained unresolved directly after FAV. FAV further caused aortic valve damage and high-velocity regurgitation. The high-velocity aortic regurgitation jet and vortex ring caused a chaotic flow field upon impinging the apex, which drastically exacerbated the already high energy losses and poor flow energy efficiency of FAS LVs. Two days after the procedure, FAV did not alter wall shear stress (WSS) spatial patterns of diseased LV but elevated WSS magnitudes, and the poor blood turnover in pre-FAV LVs did not significantly improve directly after FAV. FAV improved FAS LV's flow function, but it also led to highly chaotic flow patterns and excessively high energy losses due to the introduction of aortic regurgitation directly after the intervention. Further studies analysing the effects several weeks after FAV are needed to understand the effects of such biomechanics on morphological development.
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Ren M, Chan WX, Green L, Armstrong A, Tulzer A, Tulzer G, Buist ML, Yap CH. Contribution of Ventricular Motion and Sampling Location to Discrepancies in Two-Dimensional Versus Three-Dimensional Fetal Ventricular Strain Measures. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2023; 36:543-552. [PMID: 36623710 DOI: 10.1016/j.echo.2022.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Echocardiographic quantification of fetal cardiac strain is important to evaluate function and the need for intervention, with both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) strain measurements currently feasible. However, discrepancies between 2D and 3D measurements have been reported, the etiologies of which are unclear. This study sought to determine the etiologies of the differences between 2D and 3D strain measurements. METHODS A validated cardiac motion-tracking algorithm was used on 3D cine ultrasound images acquired in 26 healthy fetuses. Both 2D and 3D myocardial strain quantifications were performed on each image set for controlled comparisons. Finite element modeling of 2 left ventricle (LV) models with minor geometrical differences were performed with various helix angle configurations for validating image processing results. RESULTS Three-dimensional longitudinal strain (LS) was significantly lower than 2D LS for the LV free wall and septum but not for the right ventricular (RV) free wall, while 3D circumferential strain (CS) was significantly higher than 2D CS for the LV, RV, and septum. The LS discrepancy was due to 2D long-axis imaging not capturing the out-of-plane motions associated with LV twist, while the CS discrepancy was due to the systolic motion of the heart toward the apex that caused out-of-plane motions in 2D short-axis imaging. A timing mismatch between the occurrences of peak longitudinal and circumferential dimensions caused a deviation in zero-strain referencing between 2D and 3D strain measurements, contributing to further discrepancies between the 2. CONCLUSIONS Mechanisms for discrepancies between 2D and 3D strain measurements in fetal echocardiography were identified, and inaccuracies associated with 2D strains were highlighted. Understanding of this mechanism is useful and important for future standardization of fetal cardiac strain measurements, which we propose to be important in view of large discrepancies in measured values in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meifeng Ren
- Deparment of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wei Xuan Chan
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Green
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aimee Armstrong
- The Heart Center, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Andreas Tulzer
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Kepler University Hospital, Linz, Austria
| | - Gerald Tulzer
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Kepler University Hospital, Linz, Austria
| | - Martin L Buist
- Deparment of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Choon Hwai Yap
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
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Ren M, Ong C, Buist ML, Yap CH. Biventricular biaxial mechanical testing and constitutive modelling of fetal porcine myocardium passive stiffness. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2022; 134:105383. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2022.105383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Wong HS, Wiputra H, Tulzer A, Tulzer G, Yap CH. Fluid Mechanics of Fetal Left Ventricle During Aortic Stenosis with Evolving Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Ann Biomed Eng 2022; 50:1158-1172. [PMID: 35731342 PMCID: PMC9363377 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-022-02990-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In cases of fetal aortic stenosis and evolving Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (feHLHS), aortic stenosis is associated with specific abnormalities such as retrograde or bidirectional systolic transverse arch flow. Many cases progressed to hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) malformation at birth, but fetal aortic valvuloplasty can prevent the progression in many cases. Since both disease and intervention involve drastic changes to the biomechanical environment, in-vivo biomechanics likely play a role in inducing and preventing disease progression. However, the fluid mechanics of feHLHS is not well-characterized. Here, we conduct patient-specific echocardiography-based flow simulations of normal and feHLHS left ventricles (LV), to understand the essential fluid dynamics distinction between the two cohorts. We found high variability across feHLHS cases, but also the following unifying features. Firstly, feHLHS diastole mitral inflow was in the form of a narrowed and fast jet that impinged onto the apical region, rather than a wide and gentle inflow in normal LVs. This was likely due to a malformed mitral valve with impaired opening dynamics. This altered inflow caused elevated vorticity dynamics and wall shear stresses (WSS) and reduced oscillatory shear index at the apical zone rather than mid-ventricle. Secondly, feHLHS LV also featured elevated systolic and diastolic energy losses, intraventricular pressure gradients, and vortex formation numbers, suggesting energy inefficiency of flow and additional burden on the LV. Thirdly, feHLHS LV had poor blood turnover, suggesting a hypoxic environment, which could be associated with endocardial fibroelastosis that is often observed in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Shen Wong
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Hadi Wiputra
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Andreas Tulzer
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Children's Heart Center Linz, Kepler University Hospital, Linz, Austria
| | - Gerald Tulzer
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Children's Heart Center Linz, Kepler University Hospital, Linz, Austria
| | - Choon Hwai Yap
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK.
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Deficient Myocardial Organization and Pathological Fibrosis in Fetal Aortic Stenosis-Association of Prenatal Ultrasound with Postmortem Histology. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2021; 8:jcdd8100121. [PMID: 34677190 PMCID: PMC8540431 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd8100121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In fetal aortic stenosis (AS), it remains challenging to predict left ventricular development over the course of pregnancy. Myocardial organization, differentiation and fibrosis could be potential biomarkers relevant for biventricular outcome. We present four cases of fetal AS with varying degrees of severity and associate myocardial deformation on fetal ultrasound with postmortem histopathological characteristics. During routine fetal echocardiography, speckle tracking recordings of the cardiac four-chamber view were performed to assess myocardial strain as parameter for myocardial deformation. After pregnancy termination, postmortem cardiac specimens were examined using immunohistochemical labeling (IHC) of key markers for myocardial organization, differentiation and fibrosis and compared to normal fetal hearts. Two cases with critical AS presented extremely decreased left ventricular (LV) strain on fetal ultrasound. IHC showed overt endocardial fibro-elastosis, which correlated with pathological fibrosis patterns in the myocardium and extremely disturbed cardiomyocyte organization. The LV in severe AS showed mildly reduced myocardial strain and less severe disorganization of the cardiomyocytes. In conclusion, the degree of reduction in myocardial deformation corresponded with high extent to the amount of pathological fibrosis patterns and cardiomyocyte disorganization. Myocardial deformation on fetal ultrasound seems to hold promise as a potential biomarker for left ventricular structural damage in AS.
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Ong CW, Ren M, Wiputra H, Mojumder J, Chan WX, Tulzer A, Tulzer G, Buist ML, Mattar CNZ, Lee LC, Yap CH. Biomechanics of Human Fetal Hearts with Critical Aortic Stenosis. Ann Biomed Eng 2020; 49:1364-1379. [PMID: 33175989 PMCID: PMC8058006 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-020-02683-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Critical aortic stenosis (AS) of the fetal heart causes a drastic change in the cardiac biomechanical environment. Consequently, a substantial proportion of such cases will lead to a single-ventricular birth outcome. However, the biomechanics of the disease is not well understood. To address this, we performed Finite Element (FE) modelling of the healthy fetal left ventricle (LV) based on patient-specific 4D ultrasound imaging, and simulated various disease features observed in clinical fetal AS to understand their biomechanical impact. These features included aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation (MR) and LV hypertrophy, reduced contractility, and increased myocardial stiffness. AS was found to elevate LV pressures and myocardial stresses, and depending on severity, can drastically decrease stroke volume and myocardial strains. These effects are moderated by MR. AS alone did not lead to MR velocities above 3 m/s unless LV hypertrophy was included, suggesting that hypertrophy may be involved in clinical cases with high MR velocities. LV hypertrophy substantially elevated LV pressure, valve flow velocities and stroke volume, while reducing LV contractility resulted in diminished LV pressure, stroke volume and wall strains. Typical extent of hypertrophy during fetal AS in the clinic, however, led to excessive LV pressure and valve velocity in the FE model, suggesting that reduced contractility is typically associated with hypertrophy. Increased LV passive stiffness, which might represent fibroelastosis, was found to have minimal impact on LV pressures, stroke volume, and wall strain. This suggested that fibroelastosis could be a by-product of the disease progression and does not significantly impede cardiac function. Our study demonstrates that FE modelling is a valuable tool for elucidating the biomechanics of congenital heart disease and can calculate parameters which are difficult to measure, such as intraventricular pressure and myocardial stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Wei Ong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Meifeng Ren
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hadi Wiputra
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Joy Mojumder
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, United States
| | - Wei Xuan Chan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Andreas Tulzer
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Children's Heart Center Linz, Kepler University Hospital, Linz, Austria
| | - Gerald Tulzer
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Children's Heart Center Linz, Kepler University Hospital, Linz, Austria
| | - Martin Lindsay Buist
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Citra Nurfarah Zaini Mattar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lik Chuan Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, United States
| | - Choon Hwai Yap
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK.
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Alphonso N, Angelini A, Barron DJ, Bellsham-Revell H, Blom NA, Brown K, Davis D, Duncan D, Fedrigo M, Galletti L, Hehir D, Herberg U, Jacobs JP, Januszewska K, Karl TR, Malec E, Maruszewski B, Montgomerie J, Pizzaro C, Schranz D, Shillingford AJ, Simpson JM. Guidelines for the management of neonates and infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome: The European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) and the Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC) Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome Guidelines Task Force. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2020; 58:416-499. [DOI: 10.1093/ejcts/ezaa188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nelson Alphonso
- Queensland Pediatric Cardiac Service, Queensland Children’s Hospital, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Annalisa Angelini
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic Vascular Sciences and Public health, University of Padua Medical School, Padua, Italy
| | - David J Barron
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Nico A Blom
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Katherine Brown
- Paediatric Intensive Care, Heart and Lung Division, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Deborah Davis
- Department of Anesthesiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Nemours Cardiac Center, A.I. Du Pont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - Daniel Duncan
- Nemours Cardiac Center, A.I. Du Pont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - Marny Fedrigo
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua Medical School, Padua, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Galletti
- Unit of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - David Hehir
- Division of Cardiology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ulrike Herberg
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Katarzyna Januszewska
- Division of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital Muenster, Westphalian-Wilhelm’s-University, Muenster, Germany
| | | | - Edward Malec
- Division of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital Muenster, Westphalian-Wilhelm’s-University, Muenster, Germany
| | - Bohdan Maruszewski
- Department for Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - James Montgomerie
- Department of Anesthesia, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Birmingham, UK
| | - Christian Pizzaro
- Nemours Cardiac Center, A.I. Du Pont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Dietmar Schranz
- Pediatric Heart Center, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Amanda J Shillingford
- Division of Cardiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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13
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Rato J, Vigneswaran TV, Simpson JM. Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography for the Assessment of Atrial Function during Fetal Life. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2020; 33:1391-1399. [PMID: 32828625 DOI: 10.1016/j.echo.2020.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Speckle-tracking echocardiography has become a major tool in the evaluation of heart function. Atrial strain has emerged as an important component in the assessment of cardiac function, but there is a paucity of prenatal data. The aim of this study was to describe our initial experience of measurement of atrial strain in fetuses, with respect to both feasibility and the strain patterns observed. METHODS Four-chamber Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine loops were acquired prospectively for deformation imaging. Fifty-three normal fetuses with no morphologic or functional abnormalities were selected for analysis. The three strain components of atrial cycle for both left atrium (LA) and right atrium (RA) were acquired-reservoir (LAres or RAres), conduit, and contraction (LAct or RAct)-and are expressed as a percentage. Ratios of these components were calculated. Simple linear regression was used to analyze how the dependent variables changed according to gestational age and frame rate. RESULTS The median gestational age was 30 weeks (range, 23-35), and the frame rate was 74 frames per second (fps; range, 35-121). Left atrial strain was feasible in 48/53 (91%), and right atrial strain in 46/53 (87%) of cases. The onset of LA contraction could be identified on the strain curves in 32 of 48 (67%) cases, and of the RA in 17 of 46 (37%) cases. The values of RAres and RAct were higher compared with those of LAres and LAct (33.9% vs 30.3%, P = .014; and 21.5% vs 16.8%, P = .005), and the contraction:reservoir ratio was also higher for RA (0.63 vs 0.55 for LA, P = .003). Higher values for LAres, LAct, RAres, and RAct were associated with higher frame rate (P = .007, .020, .049, and .012, respectively). The onset of LA contraction was better identified with a higher frame rate (mean 77 vs 59 fps when not seen, P = .007). A higher LA contraction:reservoir ratio was associated with a lower gestational age (P = .042). CONCLUSION Measurement of atrial strain is feasible in the fetal heart. The values are influenced by gestational age and frame rate, so it is necessary to account for these variables. Comparison of left versus right atrial strain values contrasts with those observed postnatally. Atrial function merits further study during fetal life, to aid understanding of maturational changes and disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joao Rato
- Fetal Cardiology Unit, Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Evelina London Children's Healthcare, Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom; Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Hospital de Santa Cruz-Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Trisha V Vigneswaran
- Fetal Cardiology Unit, Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Evelina London Children's Healthcare, Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - John M Simpson
- Fetal Cardiology Unit, Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Evelina London Children's Healthcare, Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
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14
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Semmler J, Day TG, Georgiopoulos G, Garcia-Gonzalez C, Aguilera J, Vigneswaran TV, Zidere V, Miller OI, Sharland G, Charakida M, Simpson JM. Fetal Speckle-Tracking: Impact of Angle of Insonation and Frame Rate on Global Longitudinal Strain. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2020; 33:1141-1146.e2. [PMID: 32423727 DOI: 10.1016/j.echo.2020.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 03/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a growing body of research on fetal speckle-tracking echocardiography because it is considered to be an angle-independent modality. The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether angle of insonation and acquisition frame rate (FR) influence left ventricular endocardial global longitudinal peak strain (GLS) in the fetus. METHODS Four-chamber views of 122 healthy fetuses were studied at three different angles of insonation (apex up/down, apex oblique, and apex perpendicular) at high and low acoustic FRs. GLS was calculated, and a linear mixed-model analysis was used for analysis. Six hundred fifty-six fetal echocardiographic clips were analyzed (288 in the second trimester, at a median gestation of 21 weeks [interquartile range (IQR), 1 week], and 368 in the third trimester, at a median gestation of 36 weeks [IQR, 2 weeks]). RESULTS Angle of insonation and FRs were significant determinants of GLS. Ventricular septum perpendicular to the ultrasound beam was associated with higher (more negative) GLS compared with apex up/down (at high FR: -21.8% vs -19.7%, P < .001; at low FR: -24.1% vs -21.4%, P < .001). Higher frames per second (FPS; median 149 FPS [IQR, 33 FPS] = 61 frames per cycle [FPC] [IQR, 17 FPC]) compared with lower FPS (median 51 FPS [IQR, 15 FPS] = 22 FPC [IQR, 7 FPC]) at the same insonation angle resulted in lower GLS (apex up/down: -19.7% vs -21.4%, P < .001; apex oblique: -21.2% vs -22.7%, P < .001; apex perpendicular: -21.8% vs -24.1%, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS The present findings show that insonation angle and FR influence GLS significantly. These factors need to be considered when comparing studies with different acquisition protocols, when establishing normative values, and when interpreting pathology. Speckle-tracking echocardiography cannot be considered an angle-independent modality during fetal life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janina Semmler
- Fetal Cardiology Unit, Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's & St. Thomas' NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom; Harris Birthright Centre for Fetal Medicine, Fetal Medicine Research Institute, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas G Day
- Fetal Cardiology Unit, Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's & St. Thomas' NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom; Harris Birthright Centre for Fetal Medicine, Fetal Medicine Research Institute, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Georgios Georgiopoulos
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Coral Garcia-Gonzalez
- Harris Birthright Centre for Fetal Medicine, Fetal Medicine Research Institute, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jesica Aguilera
- Harris Birthright Centre for Fetal Medicine, Fetal Medicine Research Institute, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Trisha V Vigneswaran
- Fetal Cardiology Unit, Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's & St. Thomas' NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom; Harris Birthright Centre for Fetal Medicine, Fetal Medicine Research Institute, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vita Zidere
- Fetal Cardiology Unit, Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's & St. Thomas' NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom; Harris Birthright Centre for Fetal Medicine, Fetal Medicine Research Institute, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Owen I Miller
- Fetal Cardiology Unit, Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's & St. Thomas' NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gurleen Sharland
- Fetal Cardiology Unit, Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's & St. Thomas' NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Marietta Charakida
- Fetal Cardiology Unit, Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's & St. Thomas' NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom; Harris Birthright Centre for Fetal Medicine, Fetal Medicine Research Institute, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom; School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - John M Simpson
- Fetal Cardiology Unit, Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's & St. Thomas' NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom; Harris Birthright Centre for Fetal Medicine, Fetal Medicine Research Institute, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom; School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
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15
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Ozawa K, Davey MG, Tian Z, Hornick MA, Mejaddam AY, McGovern PE, Flake AW, Rychik J. Fetal echocardiographic assessment of cardiovascular impact of prolonged support on EXTrauterine Environment for Neonatal Development (EXTEND) system. ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY 2020; 55:516-522. [PMID: 30989734 PMCID: PMC7187205 DOI: 10.1002/uog.20295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2018] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE EXTrauterine Environment for Neonatal Development (EXTEND) is a system to support ongoing fetal growth and organ development in an extrauterine environment, utilizing a pumpless low-resistance oxygenator circuit. The aim of this study was to evaluate hemodynamics and cardiac function in fetal sheep sustained on the EXTEND system. METHODS This was a prospective study of fetal sheep supported for a minimum of 3 weeks on EXTEND. Hemodynamic parameters were assessed weekly and included heart rate, mean arterial pressure (MAP), Doppler-echocardiography-derived cardiac output (CO), pulsatility indices (PIs) of the fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA), umbilical artery (UA) and ductus venosus and cardiac function, as assessed by speckle-tracking-derived global longitudinal strain and strain rate in the right (RV) and left (LV) ventricles. Parameters were compared at 0 days and 1, 2 and 3 weeks following placement on EXTEND. RESULTS Of 10 fetal sheep enrolled, seven survived for 3 weeks and were included in the analysis. Median gestational age at cannulation was 107 (range, 95-109) days. Heart rate decreased and MAP increased significantly, but within acceptable ranges, during the study period. The quantities and relative ratios of right and left CO remained stable within the anticipated physiological range throughout the study period. Vascular tracings and PIs appeared to be similar to those seen normally in the natural in-utero state, with MCA-PI being higher than UA-PI. UA tracings demonstrated maintained abundant diastolic flow despite the absence of placental circulation. In both the RV and LV, strain decreased significantly at 1 and 2 weeks relative to baseline but returned to baseline values by week 3. CONCLUSIONS The EXTEND mechanical support system replicates natural physiology and creates a stable and sustainable cardiovascular construct that supports growth over a 3-week period. However, there is a period of depressed contractility within the first week with subsequent improvement by week 3. This may reflect a period of physiological accommodation that warrants further investigation. This study lays the foundation for further exploration as the EXTEND system moves towards human application. © 2019 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. Ozawa
- Center for Fetal Research, Department of SurgeryThe Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
- Fetal Heart ProgramCardiac Center at The Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
- Center of Maternal–FetalNeonatal and Reproductive Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development (NCCHD)TokyoJapan
| | - M. G. Davey
- Center for Fetal Research, Department of SurgeryThe Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
| | - Z. Tian
- Fetal Heart ProgramCardiac Center at The Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
| | - M. A. Hornick
- Center for Fetal Research, Department of SurgeryThe Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
| | - A. Y. Mejaddam
- Center for Fetal Research, Department of SurgeryThe Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
| | - P. E. McGovern
- Center for Fetal Research, Department of SurgeryThe Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
| | - A. W. Flake
- Center for Fetal Research, Department of SurgeryThe Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
| | - J. Rychik
- Fetal Heart ProgramCardiac Center at The Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
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16
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Day TG, Charakida M, Simpson JM. Using speckle-tracking echocardiography to assess fetal myocardial deformation: are we there yet? ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY 2019; 54:575-581. [PMID: 30740804 DOI: 10.1002/uog.20233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- T G Day
- Fetal Cardiology Unit, Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Evelina Children's Healthcare, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - M Charakida
- Fetal Cardiology Unit, Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Evelina Children's Healthcare, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Division of Imaging Science and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK
| | - J M Simpson
- Fetal Cardiology Unit, Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Evelina Children's Healthcare, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Division of Imaging Science and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK
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Graupner O, Enzensberger C, Axt-Fliedner R. New Aspects in the Diagnosis and Therapy of Fetal Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2019; 79:863-872. [PMID: 31423021 PMCID: PMC6690741 DOI: 10.1055/a-0828-7968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 12/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Fetal hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a severe congenital heart disease with a lethal prognosis without postnatal therapeutic intervention or surgery. The aim of this article is to give a brief overview of new findings in the field of prenatal diagnosis and the therapy of HLHS. As cardiac output in HLHS children depends on the right ventricle (RV), prenatal assessment of fetal RV function is of interest to predict poor functional RV status before the RV becomes the systemic ventricle. Prenatal cardiac interventions such as fetal aortic valvuloplasty and non-invasive procedures such as maternal hyperoxygenation seem to be promising treatment options but will need to be evaluated with regard to long-term outcomes. Novel approaches such as stem cell therapy or neuroprotection provide important clues about the complexity of the disease. New aspects in diagnostics and therapy of HLHS show the potential of a targeted prenatal treatment planning. This could be used to optimize parental counseling as well as pre- and postnatal management of affected children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Graupner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Enzensberger
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Prenatal Medicine, University Hospital UKGM, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Roland Axt-Fliedner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Prenatal Medicine, University Hospital UKGM, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
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Abstract
Evaluation of fetal cardiac function is one of the most important components of fetal echocardiography. Fetal cardiac dysfunction is closely linked to risk of intrauterine fetal demise, in many, but not all cases is indicative of worse postnatal prognosis and may prompt the use of medications or interventions to optimize outcomes. There may be implications for termination versus continuation of pregnancy, an indication for early delivery, a change in location and even mode of delivery. In extreme cases, fetal cardiac dysfunction may prompt prenatal or early neonatal listing for cardiac transplantation. There are several important differences between the fetal and postnatal circulatory physiology which affect echocardiographic assessment of cardiac dysfunction. In this review, we examine the echocardiographic findings according to their underlying pathophysiology with reference to common causes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Eckersley
- Fetal & Neonatal Cardiology Program, Echocardiography Laboratory, Division of Cardiology, Departments of Pediatrics, Women & Children's Health Research, Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institutes, and Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Lisa K Hornberger
- Fetal & Neonatal Cardiology Program, Echocardiography Laboratory, Division of Cardiology, Departments of Pediatrics, Women & Children's Health Research, Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institutes, and Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.,Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Women & Children's Health Research, Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institutes, and Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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19
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Prosnitz AR, Drogosz M, Marshall AC, Wilkins-Haug LE, Benson CB, Sleeper LA, Tworetzky W, Friedman KG. Early hemodynamic changes after fetal aortic stenosis valvuloplasty predict biventricular circulation at birth. Prenat Diagn 2018; 38:286-292. [PMID: 29436717 DOI: 10.1002/pd.5232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Revised: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 02/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the early hemodynamic changes after fetal aortic valvuloplasty (FAV) for evolving hypoplastic left heart syndrome due to mid-gestational aortic stenosis and to assess whether these early changes predict biventricular (BiV) circulation at neonatal discharge. METHOD We retrospectively reviewed all technically successful FAV cases resulting in live birth between 2000 and 2015 (n = 93, 45% BiV circulation at neonatal discharge). Paired testing methods were used to compare pre-intervention and post-intervention measures of left ventricular hemodynamics. Logistic regression was used to determine whether these changes were predictive of post-natal outcome. RESULTS Measures of left heart physiology were markedly abnormal pre-FAV and improved significantly post-FAV. No subjects had systolic antegrade transverse aortic arch flow pre-FAV and 65% of subjects had antegrade flow post-FAV. The number of subjects with abnormal left-to-right patent foramen ovale flow decreased, and the number with biphasic mitral valve inflow increased. The median left ventricular ejection fraction improved after intervention. Amongst the pre-post changes, gaining partially or exclusively antegrade systolic arch flow was the most significant independent predictor of BiV circulation (OR 9.80 and 19.83, respectively, both P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Technically successful FAV is associated with immediate improvements in left heart physiology that are predictive of BiV circulation at neonatal discharge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron R Prosnitz
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Monika Drogosz
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Audrey C Marshall
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Louise E Wilkins-Haug
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carol B Benson
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lynn A Sleeper
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wayne Tworetzky
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kevin G Friedman
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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20
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DeVore GR, Polanco B, Satou G, Sklansky M. Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking of the Fetal Heart: A Practical Step-by-Step Approach for the Fetal Sonologist. JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE 2016; 35:1765-1781. [PMID: 27353066 DOI: 10.7863/ultra.15.08060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Various approaches to 2-dimensional speckle tracking have been used to evaluate left ventricular function and deformation in the fetus, child, and adult. In 2015, because of differences in imaging devices and analytical programs, the cardiology community published a consensus document proposing standards for pediatric/adult deformation imaging using 2-dimensional speckle tracking. The understanding and application of deformation imaging in the fetus have been limited by a lack of uniform software, terminology, techniques, and display. This article provides a practical, step-by-step approach for deformation analysis of the fetal heart using offline software that is independent of specific ultrasound vendors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greggory R DeVore
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California USA. Fetal Diagnostic Centers, Pasadena, Tarzana, and Lancaster, California USA
| | - Bardo Polanco
- Fetal Diagnostic Centers, Pasadena, Tarzana, and Lancaster, California USA
| | - Gary Satou
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California USA
| | - Mark Sklansky
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California USA
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Wohlmuth C, Wertaschnigg D, Wieser I, Arzt W, Tulzer G. Tissue Doppler imaging in fetuses with aortic stenosis and evolving hypoplastic left heart syndrome before and after fetal aortic valvuloplasty. ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY 2016; 47:608-615. [PMID: 25914144 DOI: 10.1002/uog.14885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2015] [Revised: 04/10/2015] [Accepted: 04/16/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Fetal aortic valvuloplasty can improve filling and reduce afterload of the left ventricle in critical aortic stenosis. Success of an intrauterine intervention is currently measured by technical success, clinical survival and eventual postnatal biventricular physiology. In the present study we investigated the use of tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) to evaluate changes in ventricular function assessed before and after prenatal aortic valvuloplasty. METHODS Between October 2008 and December 2012, cardiac function was assessed by TDI before and after intervention in 23 fetuses that underwent technically successful valvuloplasty for critical aortic stenosis and in which postnatal outcome was known. The measurements were transformed into gestational age-independent Z-scores where appropriate. RESULTS Mean ± SD gestational age at intervention was 27.5 ± 3.1 weeks. Of the 23 fetuses, 14 had biventricular outcome. Before intervention all left ventricular (LV) TDI-derived parameters and mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) were severely abnormal. It was possible to demonstrate considerably improved cardiac function after technically successful valvuloplasty. Among fetuses with postnatal biventricular outcome, TDI-derived LV myocardial peak velocity during early diastole (E') and myocardial peak velocity during systole in the ejection phase (S') significantly increased, E'/myocardial peak velocity during late diastole with atrial contraction (A') increased towards normal values, and LV transmitral-to-mitral-annular diastolic velocity ratio (E/E') and myocardial performance index (MPI') decreased but remained abnormally elevated. In addition, right ventricular A', S' and MPI' significantly improved after intervention. CONCLUSION Technically successful fetal aortic valvuloplasty led to significantly improved myocardial performance. It was possible to use TDI to detect distinct changes in ventricular function and TDI-derived parameters correlated with a biventricular outcome after birth. Copyright © 2015 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Wohlmuth
- The Children's Heart Center Linz, Linz, Austria
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - D Wertaschnigg
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - I Wieser
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - W Arzt
- Institute for Prenatal Medicine, Women's and Children's Hospital, Linz, Austria
| | - G Tulzer
- The Children's Heart Center Linz, Linz, Austria
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22
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Fetal Valvuloplasty for Critical Aortic Stenosis. CURRENT PEDIATRICS REPORTS 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s40124-015-0090-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Fetal aortic valvuloplasty is intended to alter the natural history of aortic stenosis evolving to hypoplastic left heart syndrome. The most recently reported data and advances on this procedure were reviewed. RECENT FINDINGS The highlights of the latest experience are the advances in further understanding of the prenatal and postnatal natural history of this disease, and the way in which fetal aortic valvuloplasty impacts on it, the identification of new predictors of biventricular outcome, and the report of postnatal survival of intervened patients. Recently reported short-term and middle-term results are encouraging. Experimental research on procedural aspects is ongoing, with no definite results. Multicenter studies are also ongoing. SUMMARY In recent years, there have been advances in the understanding of the prenatal and postnatal process of aortic stenosis evolving to hypoplastic left heart syndrome and the effects of fetal aortic valvuloplasty, as well as the need of adequate postnatal therapeutic strategies for these patients. Procedural aspects are being studied with animal models, but still need far more experience before human application. Long-term results are still to be discovered, and multicenter studies may provide a new perspective. Continuing research is mandatory so that ultimately fetal heart intervention finds its place among the therapeutic resources for congenital heart disease.
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