Assessment of fetal cardiac function using tissue Doppler techniques.

OBJECTIVE Tissue Doppler echocardiography is being increasingly used in fetal medicine as a clinical and research tool. The objective of this study was to review the current status of tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) techniques applied to the fetus. METHODS Fetal cardiac function was evaluated using spectral and color TDI modes in normal fetuses and in several clinical conditions. RESULTS Annular peak velocities and their ratios as well as the myocardial performance index were evaluated using spectral TDI, and changes throughout gestation were described. Color TDI has several limitations in fetal life, particularly the use of low frame rates with current methods of acquisition and the lack of normal references for deformation parameters. CONCLUSIONS Despite its limitations, TDI is a sensitive and promising method to evaluate fetal cardiac function.