title: Measurements of valve circumferences and ventricular wall of fetal hearts in Chile.
abstract: Diagnosis of cardiac pathology, valvular stenosis, cardiac dilation, and/or cardiac hypertrophy is underestimated if measures of weight, wall thickness, and valve circumference are not obtained. Routine study methodology protocols allow us to obtain values of these measurements for a correct diagnosis of these cardiopathies. The aim of the study is to establish reference values for cardiac measurements in fetuses and to compare them with an international curve of reference. One hundred seventy-one autopsies from week 17 through 41 of gestation were performed on fetuses from the Pathology Unit at the Hospital Barros Luco in Santiago de Chile. Cases with malformations were not considered. Anthropometric and cardiac measurements for each gestational week were taken. A tabulation of data with values (in percentiles) of cardiac weight, valve circumference, and ventricular wall thickness was obtained. Values were similar to an international reference. The curves of values obtained allow for identification of normal parameters of heart weight, valve circumference, and ventricular wall thickness, thereby providing easily accessible data for each gestational week. Abnormal values that fall outside of the curve must be attributed to cardiac fetal pathology.
authors.affiliation: Departmento de Patología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Complejo Asistencial Hospital Barros Luco, Chile. luisvelozop@vtr.net
authors.forename: Luis F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Velozo
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Segovia
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Zapata
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peralta
authors.forename: Natalie A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
mesh_terms: D002677:Chile; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005333:Fetus; D005865:Gestational Age; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006351:Heart Valves / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D012016:Reference Values