05 Mar Fetal and neonatal echocardiographic analysis of biomechanical alterations for the systemic right ventricle heart

The transition from fetal to neonatal circulation significantly impacts systemic right ventricle (SRV) function, but traditional imaging methods struggle to capture these changes. This study used advanced echocardiographic analysis to compare biomechanical and flow alterations in 10 SRV patients and 12 healthy controls, measured at 33 weeks gestation and after birth. We found that SRV stroke volume and cardiac output were nearly twice as large as in healthy controls, reflecting right ventricular enlargement. Compared to normal hearts, the SRV exhibited higher vortex strength (P < .001), kinetic energy (P < .002), and flow energy loss (P < .003), indicating less efficient blood flow. Additionally, early diastolic filling velocity (E) was significantly elevated in SRV patients (P < .027 prenatally, P < .003 postnatally), suggesting impaired relaxation. Unlike standard clinical metrics, novel hydrodynamic parameters provided a clearer picture of altered blood flow mechanics in SRV hearts. These findings highlight the potential for echo-based imaging tools to improve early detection and management of congenital heart conditions.