Right ventricular dysfunction in human fetal compromise

Fetal M-mode echocardiography was performed in 13 pregnancies complicated by intrauterine distress. Absent end-diastolic blood velocity in the fetal descending aorta was documented by pulsed Doppler examinations. The right ventricular fractional shortening of these fetuses was decreased and the ratio of the right/left ventricular end-diastolic diameters was increased. The left ventricular size and myocardial contractility did not differ from normal pregnancy. These findings reveal that relative right ventricular heart dysfunction is associated with severe intrauterine distress.