Fetal Advanced Speckle Tracking - FAST STUDY
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Fetal Advanced Speckle Tracking for the Assessment of Cardiac Function (Fetal Advanced Speckle Tracking) FAST Study
IRAS ID
307341
Contact name
Hatem Mousa
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals of Leicester
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
149709, EDGE ID
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 9 months, 16 days
Research summary
This is a prospective cross-sectional observational pilot study to assess the feasibility of using speckle tracking technology during routine care for the assessment of fetal cardiac function among high-risk groups and compare the results to low-risk population. Speckle tracking is a method that assesses the motion of the wall of the heart, measurements are acquired on the four chamber view of the fetal heart which is acquired in all fetal scans. The technique is in use for the assessment of adult heart. However, it has not widely used in assessment of the fetal heart. Speckle tracking could potentially give a wealth of information on fetal heart size, shape and function. Off-line speckle tracking analysis will be carried by two trained sonographers from stored acquisitions made routinely during ultrasound examination of the fetus during pregnancy these images will be obtained by trained sonographers, consultants cardiologists and fetal medicine consultants. A new software technology, Voluson Fetal HQ, will be used, this software requires tracing of the right and left ventricle plus cross sectional measurements of the fetal heart to enable speckle tracking analysis to be carried out. These measurements will be made once the images have been obtained as part of the women’s routine scan. We are including pregnant women with known fetal cardiac problem (arrhythmia, disproportion between the chambers of the heart, or cardiac defect) and those with high-risk pregnancy (fetal growth restriction or small for date, admitted for induction of labour, diabetic mothers, reduced fetal movements or obstetric cholestasis). Speckle tracking analysis will be carried out on every visit which is decided clinically. Results will be compared to gestational aged matched controls of low-risk pregnant women. Our primary objective is to find out if using speckle tracking technology could help us to identify a profile for fetuses with cardiac dysfunction.
REC name
London - West London & GTAC Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/PR/1051
Date of REC Opinion
26 Aug 2022
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion