Three-dimensional (3D) speckle tracking in fetal echocardiography: A new technology in assessment of fetal heart function

Objective: To demonstrate the possible application of 3D speckle tracking enabling to do real 3D based analysis of fetal heart function on raw data volumes acquired. Methods: Preliminary results of myocardial deformation measurement in individual fetuses assessed for the first time by 3D Wall Motion Tracking technology. For fetal echocardiography a Toshiba Artida ultrasound machine (Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation, Otawa, Tochigi, Japan) equipped with a PST-25SX (2 – 4 MHz) matrix array transducer and an additional ECG dummy (phantom 320, Mueller & Sebastiani Elektronik GmbH, Ottobrunn, Germany) was used. Ba…