Evaluation of fetal cardiac output in preterm premature rupture of membranes

AIMWe aimed to investigate fetal cardiac output (CO) in pregnancies with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and its relationship with umbilical cord pH. METHODSThis was a prospective study in total 90 pregnancies at 24-37 weeks gestation including 42 pregnancies with PPROM and 48 that healthy controls. Fetal cardiac function including combined, left and right CO z-scores were compared. The neonates in the PPROM group were separated with umbilical cord pH above and below 7.25, and cardiac output was compared between groups. RESULTSIn PPROM group, CCO z-score, left cardiac output (LCO) z-score, and right cardiac output (RCO) were significantly lower compared to healthy pregnancies (p = .036, p = .001, p = .032, respectively), while RCO z-score showed no significant differences between the two groups. The aortic annulus and pulmonary artery annulus z-scores were measured smaller in the PPROM group (p = .000 and p = .001, respectively). In PPROM group, the fetal LCO z-score was significantly lower in neonates with an umbilical cord pH of 7.25 or less (p = .048). CONCLUSIONThis study provides evidence that fetal CCO is lower in PPROM compared with healthy pregnancies. Reduced LCO z-scores may be useful for predicting adverse neonatal outcomes in pregnancies with PPROM.