Anna C O'Kelly1, Garima Sharma2, Arthur Jason Vaught3, Sammy Zakaria2. 1. Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA, 02114, USA. aokelly1@mgh.harvard.edu. 2. Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 4940 Eastern Ave. Bldg 301, Suite 2400, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA. 3. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 660 North Wolfe Street, Phipps 228, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Pregnancy is a time of significant cardiovascular change. Echocardiography is the primary imaging modality used to assess cardiovascular anatomy and physiology during pregnancy. Both two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography and advanced cardiac ultrasound modalities play pivotal roles in identifying and monitoring these changes, especially in women with preexisting or new cardiac disease. This paper reviews the role of echocardiography and advanced cardiac ultrasound during normal pregnancy and pregnancy complicated by hypertensive disorders, valvular disorders, and cardiomyopathy. It also examines the role of echocardiography in guiding decisions about delivery. RECENT FINDINGS: The data establishing normal echo parameters during pregnancy are inconsistent. In addition, there is limited research exploring the role of advanced cardiac ultrasound modalities, such as tissue Doppler imaging or speckle tracking echocardiography, in assessing cardiac function during pregnancy. What data there are suggest that these advanced modalities can be used to identify subclinical changes before traditional echocardiography can, and thus have clear utility in identifying early abnormal cardiac responses to pregnancy. Echocardiography is the modality of choice for imaging the heart in pregnant women. Advanced ultrasound modalities increasingly play a role in identifying abnormal adaptations to pregnancy and detecting subclinical changes. This, in turn, can help promote a healthy pregnancy for both mother and fetus.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Pregnancy is a time of significant cardiovascular change. Echocardiography is the primary imaging modality used to assess cardiovascular anatomy and physiology during pregnancy. Both two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography and advanced cardiac ultrasound modalities play pivotal roles in identifying and monitoring these changes, especially in women with preexisting or new cardiac disease. This paper reviews the role of echocardiography and advanced cardiac ultrasound during normal pregnancy and pregnancy complicated by hypertensive disorders, valvular disorders, and cardiomyopathy. It also examines the role of echocardiography in guiding decisions about delivery. RECENT FINDINGS: The data establishing normal echo parameters during pregnancy are inconsistent. In addition, there is limited research exploring the role of advanced cardiac ultrasound modalities, such as tissue Doppler imaging or speckle tracking echocardiography, in assessing cardiac function during pregnancy. What data there are suggest that these advanced modalities can be used to identify subclinical changes before traditional echocardiography can, and thus have clear utility in identifying early abnormal cardiac responses to pregnancy. Echocardiography is the modality of choice for imaging the heart in pregnant women. Advanced ultrasound modalities increasingly play a role in identifying abnormal adaptations to pregnancy and detecting subclinical changes. This, in turn, can help promote a healthy pregnancy for both mother and fetus.
Authors: Lori A Blauwet; Antonia Delgado-Montero; Keiko Ryo; Josef J Marek; Rami Alharethi; Paul J Mather; Kalgi Modi; Richard Sheppard; Vinay Thohan; Jessica Pisarcik; Dennis M McNamara; John Gorcsan Journal: Circ Heart Fail Date: 2016-05 Impact factor: 8.790
Authors: Thomas R Porter; Sasha K Shillcutt; Mark S Adams; Georges Desjardins; Kathryn E Glas; Joan J Olson; Richard W Troughton Journal: J Am Soc Echocardiogr Date: 2015-01 Impact factor: 5.251
Authors: M E Estensen; J O Beitnes; G Grindheim; L Aaberge; O A Smiseth; T Henriksen; S Aakhus Journal: Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol Date: 2013-06 Impact factor: 7.299