Fetal blood flow velocimetry by phase-contrast MRI using a new triggering method and comparison with Doppler ultrasound in a sheep model: a pilot study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Fetal blood flow velocimetry by phase-contrast MRI using a new triggering method and comparison with Doppler ultrasound in a sheep model: a pilot study

AU - Schoennagel, Bjoern P

AU - Remus, Chressen C

AU - Yamamura, Jin

AU - Kording, Fabian

AU - de Sousa, Manuela Tavares

AU - Hecher, Kurt

AU - Fischer, Roland

AU - Ueberle, Friedrich

AU - Boehme, Matthias

AU - Adam, Gerhard

AU - Kooijman, Hendrik

AU - Wedegärtner, Ulrike

PY - 2014/6/1

Y1 - 2014/6/1

N2 - OBJECT: We present the first study demonstrating the feasibility of antenatal blood flow velocimetry performing ECG triggered phase-contrast (PC)-MRI in the fetal aorta by using a newly developed Doppler ultrasound trigger.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five pregnant sheep carrying singleton fetuses (gestational age 121 days) were anesthetized to undergo fetal 2D PC-MRI in the fetal descending aorta (1.5 T) using a newly developed MR-compatible Doppler ultrasound trigger for fetal cardiac triggering. Inter-operator variability was assessed for PC-MR measurements and reproducibility was tested by repeated scans in one fetus. Inter-modality comparison was performed by Doppler ultrasound velocimetry.RESULTS: Fetal cardiac triggering was possible in all examinations. PC-MR velocimetry revealed a mean inter-operator variability of 3 ± 5 %. Average peak systolic flow velocities of 62.5 ± 4.4 cm/s were in good agreement with Doppler ultrasound measurements of 62.0 ± 9.2 cm/s (p (Lord's U test) ≫ 0.05).CONCLUSION: Fetal PC-MR velocimetry was successfully performed using the newly developed MR-compatible Doppler ultrasound trigger for intrauterine fetal cardiac triggering, demonstrating high inter-operator and inter-modality agreement. This new method has the high potential for alternative assessment of hemodynamic decompensation of the fetal circulation.

AB - OBJECT: We present the first study demonstrating the feasibility of antenatal blood flow velocimetry performing ECG triggered phase-contrast (PC)-MRI in the fetal aorta by using a newly developed Doppler ultrasound trigger.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five pregnant sheep carrying singleton fetuses (gestational age 121 days) were anesthetized to undergo fetal 2D PC-MRI in the fetal descending aorta (1.5 T) using a newly developed MR-compatible Doppler ultrasound trigger for fetal cardiac triggering. Inter-operator variability was assessed for PC-MR measurements and reproducibility was tested by repeated scans in one fetus. Inter-modality comparison was performed by Doppler ultrasound velocimetry.RESULTS: Fetal cardiac triggering was possible in all examinations. PC-MR velocimetry revealed a mean inter-operator variability of 3 ± 5 %. Average peak systolic flow velocities of 62.5 ± 4.4 cm/s were in good agreement with Doppler ultrasound measurements of 62.0 ± 9.2 cm/s (p (Lord's U test) ≫ 0.05).CONCLUSION: Fetal PC-MR velocimetry was successfully performed using the newly developed MR-compatible Doppler ultrasound trigger for intrauterine fetal cardiac triggering, demonstrating high inter-operator and inter-modality agreement. This new method has the high potential for alternative assessment of hemodynamic decompensation of the fetal circulation.

U2 - 10.1007/s10334-013-0397-0

DO - 10.1007/s10334-013-0397-0

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 23934159

VL - 27

SP - 237

EP - 244

JO - MAGN RESON MATER PHY

JF - MAGN RESON MATER PHY

SN - 1352-8661

IS - 3

ER -