The Presence of a Single Nuchal Cord in the Third Trimester May Not Affect Tei Index in LGA Fetuses

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 21;20(5):3778. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20053778.

Abstract

(1) Background: The aim of this study was to assess the RV (right ventricle) and LV (left ventricle) Tei index in large for gestational age (LGA) fetuses with a single 360-degree umbilical coil of the umbilical cord around the fetal neck identified by ultrasound in the third trimester of gestation. (2) Methods: The RV and LV Tei index for the cardiac function were measured in 297 singleton pregnancies, and we identified 25 LGA fetuses. There were 48% of LGA fetuses with a nuchal umbilical cord-LGA/NC-larger for gestational age fetuses with a nuchal cord. NC was detected with a color Doppler during a transverse scan of the fetal neck, when the umbilical cord formed a U shape. All fetuses had normal anatomy and normal uterine, placental, umbilical, intracardiac and cerebral Doppler waveforms values for their gestational age. (3) Results: The RV Tei index was significantly higher in the LGA subgroup vs. AGA (0.6 ± 0.2 vs. 0.50 ± 0.2; p value = 0.01), but in LGA fetuses with a single coil of the nuchal cord, there were not any significant changes in the Tei indexes. (4) Conclusions: The Tei index might not be impacted by the presence of the nuchal cord in LGA fetuses.

Keywords: LGA; Tei index; nuchal cord.

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Fetus
  • Gestational Age
  • Humans
  • Nuchal Cord*
  • Placenta
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Third
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal

Grants and funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.