Profiling left and right ventricular proportional output during fetal life with a novel systolic index in the aortic isthmus

Abstract

The transitional changes of the respective right and left ventricular outputs throughout pregnancy are well profiled by the ISI. This index highlights the physiological increase in fetal right ventricle flow preponderance as pregnancy progresses. Alteration of the ISI profile could be expected in clinical conditions associated with unbalanced alteration of the fetal ventricular outputs.