The normal growth of the pulmonary trunk in human foetuses

Abstract

The rate of growth of the pulmonary trunk during gestation has not been sufficiently determined. The present study was performed on 128 spontaneously aborted human foetuses aged 15-34 weeks in order to compile normative data for pulmonary trunk dimensions at various gestational ages. With the use of anatomical dissection, digital-image analysis (the Leica QWin Pro 16 system) and statistical analysis (ANOVA, regression analysis) a range of measurements (length, diameter and volume) was analysed for the pulmonary trunk during gestation. No significant gender differences were found (p > 0.05). Growth curves were generated of the best fit for the plot for each morphometric feature against gestational age. The results obtained show a statistically significant correlation (p < 0.001) between the parameters examined and gestational age. Both the length and diameter of the pulmonary trunk were found to increase in a linear fashion throughout gestation. The length ranged from 3.17 ± 0.36 mm to 13.54 ± 1.39 mm, according to the linear function y = -5.6035 + 0.5705 x ± 0.9171 (r = 0.96). The diameter ranged from 1.51 ± 0.24 mm to 5.30 ± 1.53 mm, according to the linear model y = -1.4813 + 0.2154 x ± 0.7452 (r = 0.86). The pulmonary trunk volume ranged from 5.94 ± 2.21 mm³ to 312.37 ± 154.34 mm³, according to the quadratic function y = 143.2 - 20.961 x + 0.791 x² ± 63.306 (R² = 0.74). The growth curves generated from my data may be useful as a reference for foetal echocardiographers in the detection of congenital cardiovascular abnormalities.