Evaluation of Foetal Cardiothoracic Ratio in Normal Pregnancy: Correlation with Gestational Age, Foetal Weight and Established Nomogram
Peter Chibuzor Oriji
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Enefia Kelvin Kiridi *
Department of Radiology, Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, Bayelsa State, Nigeria and Silhouette Radiodiagnostic Consultants, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Datonye Christopher Briggs
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Obiora Chibundu
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria.
Johnpatrick Uchenna Ugwoegbu
Department of Radiology, Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
Chioma Okechukwu
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Panebi Yao Bosrotsi
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Diete Koki Memorial Hospital, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Akaninyene Eseme Ubom
Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Perinatology, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria and International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Committee on Childbirth and Postpartum Haemorrhage, Nigeria.
Isaac Joel Abasi
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Adedotun Daniel Adesina
Department of Medical Services, Nigerian Law School, Yenagoa Campus, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria and Oasis Public Health Consulting Ltd, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: An important sign of congenital heart disease (CHD), myocardial dysfunction and foetal congestive cardiac failure is cardiomegaly, which is detected using the assessment of the cardiothoracic (CT) ratio.
Objective: To evaluate the foetal CT ratio and its relationship with gestational age in the second half of pregnancy, and produce nomograms for the foetal CT ratio.
Subjects and Methods: This descriptive, cross‐sectional study enrolled women with a normal pregnancy in their second and third trimesters at the two tertiary health facilities, one secondary facility and one radiodiagnostic facility in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The study was conducted from April–December 2022. Pearson's correlation and logistic regression analyses were used to assess the relationship and correlation between the CT ratio, gestational age, and estimated foetal weight. The p<0.05 at 95%CI level of significance was set.
Results: The mean bi-parietal diameter estimated foetal weight and CT diameter ratio was 66.5 ± 18.3 mm, 1.24 ± 0.87 kg and 0.46 ± 0.02 cm respectively. The foetal CT ratio correlates very strongly with estimated gestational age (ɼ = 0.98; p – 0.001), bi-parietal diameter (ɼ = 0.96; p – 0.001), estimated foetal weight (ɼ = 0.92; p – 0.001), Maternal age (ɼ = 0.36; p – 0.001), maternal weight (ɼ = 0.19; p – 0.001) and maternal height (ɼ = 0.20; p – 0.001).
Conclusion: We have demonstrated that there does exist a very strong correlation between the foetal cardiothoracic ratio and the foetal gestational age, biparietal diameter and foetal weight, which slightly, but steadily increased throughout pregnancy.
Keywords: Cardiothoracic ratio, cardiomegaly, pregnancy, gestational age, foetal weight