title: [Assessment of myocardial performance in fetuses by using Tei index].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To define the value of Tei index of normal fetuses and to estimate the influence of gestational week and heart rate on the index.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fetal echocardiograms were performed on 225 normal single fetuses, which were divided into three groups (18 approximately 27(+6), 28 approximately 36(+6), 37 approximately 42 gestational weeks). The Tei indexes of both left and right ventricles (LV and RV) were measured by color Doppler ultrasonography. t test was used to compare the Tei index between LV and RV. The correlation between Tei index, gestational week and fetal heart rate were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Tei indexes in three different gestational week groups (18 approximately 27(+6), 28 approximately 36(+6), 37 approximately 42 gestational weeks) were 0.37 +/- 0.08, 0.27 +/- 0.05, 0.22 +/- 0.05 of LV and 0.39 +/- 0.04, 0.30 +/- 0.05, 0.24 +/- 0.04 of RV respectively. There was significant difference of Tei index of RV and LV during 28 approximately 36(+6) gestational weeks (P < 0.05). The Tei index of LV and RV decreased linearly with advancing gestational week during 18 - 42 weeks (LV: r = -0.755, PP < 0.05; RV: r = -0.721, P < 0.05) in normal single fetuses. None of the fetal Tei indexes of LV and RV was related to fetal heart rate (LV: r = 0.133, P > 0.05; RV: r = 0.100, P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tei index may be useful, convenient and reliable in fetal cardiac function assessment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University, First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiao-feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Hui-juan
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D016276:Ventricular Function / Q000502:physiology