Range and Variation of Fetal Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Angle in Normal Pregnancy

Abstract

The purpose of studying the fetal Left Ventricular Outflow Tract angle in normal pregnancy is to establish a baseline measurement for prenatal evaluations. Identifying deviations from the normal Left Ventricular Outflow Tract range can help detect congenital heart defects, particularly conotruncal anomalies, aiding in early diagnosis and improved clinical management. This research aims to enhance the accuracy of fetal heart assessment using ultrasonography. The Left Ventricular Outflow Tract angle is measured as the angle between the longitudinal axis of the left ventricle and the outflow tract (the aorta as it exits the heart). Its measurement requires precise imaging and proper alignment of the ultrasound probe. The study included 394 pregnant females, with mean age of 27.3 years and mean gestational age was 26.8 weeks. The Left Ventricular Outflow Tract angle ranged from 129 to 163 degrees (mean = 145.5 degrees, SD = 6.24). The cardiac axis ranged from 31 to 53 degrees (mean = 43.3 degrees, SD = 3.50). One-way ANOVA showed no significant difference in mean LVOT angle across gestational age groups (F = 0.713, p = 0.639..One-way ANOVA demonstrated no significant difference in mean LVOT angle across cardiac axis categories (p = 0.435). Left Ventricular Outflow Tract angle did not significantly correlate with gestational age and cardiac axis indicating that these factors do not significantly affect the Left Ventricular Outflow Tract angle in normal pregnancies.