Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38630708›Full record

ArticlePloS one2024

Feasibility and reliability of fetal two dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography at 16 weeks gestational age: A pilot study.

Thomas J Nichting, Zoé A van Lier, Chantelle de Vet, Myrthe van der Ven, Daisy A A van der Woude, Sally A Clur, Noortje H M van Oostrum, S Guid Oei, Judith O E H van Laar

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact, top 92% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 0 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Thomas J NichtingDepartment of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Máxima MC, Veldhoven, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0001-9905-4380
Zoé A van LierDepartment of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Máxima MC, Veldhoven, The Netherlands.
Chantelle de VetDepartment of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Máxima MC, Veldhoven, The Netherlands.
Myrthe van der VenDepartment of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Máxima MC, Veldhoven, The Netherlands.
Daisy A A van der WoudeDepartment of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Máxima MC, Veldhoven, The Netherlands.
Sally A ClurDepartment of Pediatric Cardiology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0001-5276-1475
Noortje H M van OostrumDepartment of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Gent, Gent, Belgium.
S Guid OeiDepartment of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Máxima MC, Veldhoven, The Netherlands.
Judith O E H van LaarDepartment of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Máxima MC, Veldhoven, The Netherlands.
Radboud University Nijmegen · NLEmma Kinderziekenhuis · NLGhent University Hospital · BE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFetal two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) is an emerging technique for assessing fetal cardiac function by measuring global longitudinal strain. Alterations in global longitudinal strain may serve as early indicator of pregnancy complications, making 2D-STE a potentially valuable tool for early detection. Early detection can facilitate timely interventions to reduce fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of performing 2D-STE at 16 weeks gestational age.

methodsThis pilot study utilized 50 ultrasound clips of the fetal four-chamber view recorded between 15+5 and 16+2 weeks gestational age from a prospective cohort study. A strict protocol assessed three parameters essential for 2D-STE analysis: fetal four-chamber view ultrasound clip quality, region of interest, and frame rates. Two independent researchers measured global longitudinal strain in all adequate fetal four-chamber view ultrasound clips to determine inter- and intra-operator reliability.

resultsOut of the 50 ultrasound clips, 37 (74%) were feasible for 2D-STE analysis. The inter-operator reliability for global longitudinal strain measurements of the left and right ventricles was moderate (ICC of 0.64 and 0.74, respectively), while the intra-operator reliability was good (ICC of 0.76 and 0.79, respectively).

conclusionsOur findings demonstrate that fetal 2D-STE analysis at 16 weeks gestational age is feasible when adhering to a strict protocol. However, further improvements are necessary to enhance the inter- and intra-operator reliability of 2D-STE at this gestational age.

Indexed as

EchocardiographyEchocardiography, Three-DimensionalFeasibility StudiesFemaleGestational AgeHeart VentriclesHumansPilot ProjectsPregnancyProspective StudiesReproducibility of Results

Identifiers

PMID38630708
PMCPMC11023584
OpenAlexW4394874528

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.