Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical value of velocity vector imaging (VVI) in the assessment of normal fetal regional myocardial performance and to establish a normative data set for normal Chinese fetuses.
Methods: One hundred and fifty-one healthy Chinese fetuses were divided into five groups according to their gestational age. Digital dynamic four-chamber views were collected and analyzed offline. The regional tissue velocity, strain, and strain rate of the interventricular septum and left lateral wall were measured in systole and diastole.
Results: Normal systolic and diastolic values for tissue velocity, strain, and strain rate were established. Tissue velocity decreased gradually from the basal segment to the apical segment (P < 0.01), whereas the strain and strain rate were stable among all segments in every group (P > 0.05). Tissue velocity was dependent on gestational age (P < 0.05), whereas strain and strain rate were stable throughout gestation (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: VVI is a novel noninvasive tool for quantitative assessment of regional systolic and diastolic function of the fetal heart. Fetal myocardial velocity, strain, and strain rate measurements can be measured easily and reproducibly. This technique is useful for evaluating cardiac function.