Cardiac performance during pregnancy: serial evaluation using external systolic time intervals.

Indirect systolic time indices were used to evaluate serial changes in left ventricular function during pregnancy in 13 normal patients and five patients with compensated cardiac conditions. Changes in both groups tended to parallel each other. In both groups, serial LVET index decreased, PEP index increased, and PEP/LVET ratio increased. Q-S2 index decreased in the normal group in midpregnancy and was inconsistent in the cardiac group. In the immediate postpartum period, LVET index returned to baseline values but PEP and PEP/LVET remained increased in both groups. Results of multiple comparison tests demonstrated that the largest (or smallest) value of each systolic time interval during pregnancy was observed in either the periods of the weeks 28 to 34 or 34 to 38. No significant differences were noted in intergroup comparison between the normal and cardiac groups. These data suggest that consistent changes in cardiac function may be determined during pregnancy by the noninvasive technique of indirect systolic time interval evaluation. These changes may reflect a change in left ventricular contractility, preload or afterload. The differences may persist even in the immediate postpartum period when cardiac output and heart rate have decreased to normal, suggesting residual changes in intrinsic left ventricular function. In patients with compensated heart disease, indirect tests of left ventricular function generally reflect the changes in normal pregnant women.