Inclusion of Speckle Tracking Echocardiography Analysis in the Management of Intrauterine Growth Restrictions—Literature Review and Case Reports

TL;DR

This paper reviews how speckle tracking echocardiography can improve the management of pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction by detecting early signs of fetal heart issues.

Contribution

The novel contribution is the application of speckle tracking echocardiography to differentiate between fetal growth restriction and small for gestational age cases.

Findings

Speckle tracking echocardiography detects early cardiac dysfunction in IUGR fetuses.

Comprehensive ultrasound assessments improve outcomes in high-risk pregnancies.

Case studies show correlations between ultrasound metrics and neonatal outcomes.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The relationship between ultrasound parameters and fetal health in the context of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) pregnancies constitutes a significant focus of scholarly research. A comprehensive range of Doppler and echocardiographic evaluations, encompassing the umbilical artery, middle cerebral artery, ductus venosus, uterine arteries, cardiac contractility, ventricular filling, and the thickness of the interventricular septum, has been proposed in pathological pregnancies. Methods: The aim of this paper is to present an examination of these metrics and their implications for fetal health within the framework of IUGR pregnancies and to report a case series in which we analyzed the correlation of these factors. The assessment of these ultrasound indicators can help in better management of the cases in order to obtain better fetal outcomes. Results: Our case study presented dynamics corelated to the after-birth evaluation of the neonate, reflecting the importance of complete ultrasound assessment in high-risk cases. Conclusions: Speckle tracking echocardiography has significantly advanced our understanding of cardiac function in IUGR fetuses. As shown in our cases, it can be used to detect early signs of cardiac dysfunction, differentiating between FGR and SGA.

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