Introduction: Fetal echocardiography is the ultrasonic evaluation of the human fetal cardiovascular system

Aim: The study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the role of AV valve flow pattern in early detection of IUGR pregnancy

Material and Methods: Using Ultrasonography A comparative study of E/A value was done in normal and IUGR fetuses in different gestational age group from 15^th to 37^th gestational weeks. At term cases were categorized as normal and IUGR on the basis of fetal weight. Correlation of E/A value with gestational age was calculated and compared in both group to find any statistically significant difference.

Result: A positive correlation was observed between E/A value and gestational age in both groups. Low E/A values of mitral and tricuspid valves show significant correlation with low birth weight (IUGR).As ventricular stiffness decreases with advancing gestation, E/A ratio increases from 0.53 ± 0.05 in the first trimester to about 0.70 ± 0.02 in the second half of pregnancy. Indeed E/A ratios around 0.82 ± 0.04 are noted at term. The rise in E/A ratio with advancing gestation suggests a shift of blood flow from late to early diastole

Discussion: By our study, B-Mode & Spectral wave analysis of flow of Atrio-ventricular valve for early detection of IUGR with good accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value & negative predictive value.

Conclusion: We concluded that we can use B-Mode & Spectral wave analysis of flow of Atrio-ventricular valve for early detection of IUGR withstrong positive linear correlation with gestational age.

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Dr Krishna Raj

Junior Resident, Department of Radiodiagnosis, GSVM Medical College, Kanpur