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Ductal occlusion of 1±5 days duration was diagnosed<br />

by fetal echocardiography in our practice over 2 years<br />

in 6 of 115 fetuses exposed to indomethacin (mean gestational<br />

age 27.4 weeks) at 31±35 weeks' gestation.<br />

None was hydropic, and all six had (1) right ventricular<br />

enlargement with decreased shortening and tricuspid<br />

valve regurgitation; (2) increased main and branch pulmonary<br />

artery sizes; and (3) increased left ventricular<br />

shortening and aortic arch velocity. Ductal occlusion<br />

was differentiated from ductal constriction by an absence<br />

of flow in the ductus, seen by color Doppler exa<br />

Chapter 37 Evaluation of Pulmonary and Ductal Vasculature 553<br />

Clinical Implications of Ductal Constriction<br />

Whether prolonged constriction of the ductus can<br />

lead to clinically significant hypertrophy of the<br />

smooth muscle in the pulmonary vascular bed is currently<br />

under investigation. The right ventricle develops<br />

hypertrophy rapidly during constriction, and<br />

little is known about its impact on gestation or the<br />

postnatal course. It seems prudent to evaluate a fetus<br />

exposed to chronic indomethacin at least weekly if<br />

there it no evidence of constriction and to increase<br />

the surveillance to daily examinations if ductal constriction<br />

is present with tricuspid regurgitation.<br />

Ductal Occlusion<br />

Fig. 37.4. Fetal echocardiography following<br />

fetal ductal occlusion of 1 week<br />

duration showing residual ductal constriction.<br />

Top panel: Ductal constriction is<br />

indicated by the persistently elevated<br />

velocities. Second panel: There is decreased<br />

forward flow in the pulmonary<br />

valve and slight pulmonary valve regurgitation,<br />

which is never seen in the normal<br />

fetus. Third panel: M-mode echocardiography<br />

shows residual thickening<br />

of the right ventricle. Bottom panel: Left<br />

branch of the pulmonary artery (LPA)<br />

Doppler velocity is abnormal, with diastolic<br />

reversal indicating elevated fetal<br />

pulmonary vascular resistance. The fetus<br />

resolved this pattern prior to birth and<br />

was delivered without complication

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