Factors, like reduced pulmonary blood flow, vascular abnormalities, and increased pulmonary vascular resistance can contribute to compromised fetal heart development and lead to smaller heart size.
These conditions can impact the development and function of the fetal heart, leading to smaller left heart structures, such as the mitral valve, aortic valve, left ventricle length, and left ventricle width.
Conditions affecting fetal development or proper blood flow that may reduce fetal heart size include congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), vascular hypoplasia, and lung hypoplasia. https://t.co/i8Xp
In the presence of CDH without congenital heart disease, the left heart structures may be impacted, but they usually normalize after birth. Reduced fetal heart size can also be associated with other conditions affecting fetal development or proper blood fl