Cardiac function in fetuses and neonates
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Fetal and neonatal cardiac function in low and high risk term pregnancies. This is a prospective observational study to assess the fetal cardiac function in term pregnancies in the immediate period before delivery and to assess the cardiac function of these neonates immediately after delivery
IRAS ID
139809
Contact name
Wassim Hassan
Contact email
Research summary
Fetal cardiac assessment in high risk pregnancies showed that alterations in the cardiac fucntion could be diagnosed as early as 24 weeks gestation. Small for gestational age and intrauterine growth restriciton fetuses developed raised myocardiac performance index in the second and third trimester of pregnancy. Abnormal cardiac function is postulated to be a potential marker for fetal condition in intrauterine growth restriction and is associated with an increased risk of hypertension and vascular hypertrophy in postnatal life.There is a suggestion that intrauterine growth restricted fetuses encounter cardiac remodelling in the postnatal life. Severely growth restricted neonates are at higher risk of medical intervention and requiring multiple inotropic agents.
We aim to study the fetal cardiac function in pregnant women after 37 weeks gestation. Women with normal and high risk pregnancies will be included. High risk pregnancies include diabetes, hypertension, growth restriction fetuses and women with substance abuse. The cardiac function will be assessed by performing an ultrasound scan (Fetal echo-cardiography) in the three days prior to delivery. The scan will assess the left and right cardiac function by assessing the myocardial performance index (relaxation & contraction times, systolic ejection time including E & A waves) and the mechanical P-R interval by pulse wave B mode Doppler and by tissue Doppler imaging. Fetuses who received an antenatal scan will be followed up after delivery and a further scan will be performed in the first three days of neonatal life. The same cardiac measurements performed antenatally will be performed postnatally.
Primiparous women at term with singleton pregnancy will be elligible for the study. Women having induction of labour and women with planned Caesarean section will be included. The study will be conducted on the antenatal and postnatal wards. Inclusion period will be for one year from March 2014.REC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/EE/0138
Date of REC Opinion
12 May 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion