Decreased biventricular myocardial deformation in fetuses with lower urinary tract obstruction

To observe myocardial deformations in fetuses with isolated lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO) and identify the correlation between myocardial deformation and the severity of obstruction. The strain (S), strain rate in systole (SRs) and strain rate in diastole (SRd) of the left and right ventricles at the first examination were prospectively analyzed and compared between fetuses with isolated LUTO and gestational age (GA)-matched normal control fetuses. Multiple regression analyses were used to assess the obstructive factors for impaired strain and strain rate, and the independent variables included bladder volume, sum of the bilateral pelvic diameters, sum of the bilateral ureteral diameters, mean bilateral renal artery pulsatility index, and amniotic fluid index. Thirty-six fetuses with isolated LUTO and 36 normal controls were enrolled. Overall, decreased S, SRs and SRd of both ventricles were noted in fetuses with LUTO (p