Combined ventricular output and oxygen delivery are reduced while oxygen extraction fraction is increased in fetuses with Ebstein's Anomaly by MRI

Results We studied 30 normal and 8 EA fetuses at 36 weeks gestation. There were 2 deaths in the 4 patients that underwent surgery (all Starnes procedures). We found reduced flows in all measured vessels except ascending aorta (Table 1). There were also significant reduced T2s in ascending aorta and superior vena cava, but no difference in umbilical vein (UV) and descending aorta (Table 1). DO2 was lower, but increases in OEF maintained normal VO2 in EA fetuses (Table 2). Fetal weight and brain weight were lower in EA fetuses, while lung volume was not significantly different (Table 2). Within the EA group, UV flow (P = 0.04), VO2 (P < 0.0001) and lung volume (P = 0.03) were significantly higher in EA newborns not requiring surgery than EA newborn that received surgery.