1. What is Fetal Cardiac Output?

Fetal cardiac output (CO) is the volume of blood pumped by the fetal heart per minute. It's a crucial indicator of fetal well-being and cardiovascular function during pregnancy, calculated as the product of stroke volume and heart rate.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the cardiac output formula:

Where:

• \( CO \) — Cardiac output (mL/min)
• \( SV \) — Stroke volume (mL)
• \( HR \) — Heart rate (beats per minute)

Explanation: This fundamental equation represents the total blood flow generated by the heart, combining both the volume per beat and the rate of beating.

3. Importance of Cardiac Output Measurement

Details: Monitoring fetal cardiac output is essential for assessing fetal health, detecting potential cardiovascular issues, and guiding clinical decisions during high-risk pregnancies.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter stroke volume in milliliters (mL) and heart rate in beats per minute (bpm). Both values must be positive numbers for accurate calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is normal fetal cardiac output?
A: Normal values vary by gestational age, but typically range from 200-500 mL/min/kg in the third trimester, increasing as the fetus grows.

Q2: How is fetal stroke volume measured?
A: Fetal SV is typically measured using Doppler echocardiography, calculating the cross-sectional area of outflow tracts and velocity time integral.

Q3: Why monitor fetal cardiac output?
A: It helps detect cardiac dysfunction, assess fetal well-being in growth-restricted fetuses, and monitor response to maternal conditions that affect fetal circulation.

Q4: Does fetal cardiac output change during gestation?
A: Yes, cardiac output increases significantly throughout pregnancy as the fetal heart grows and develops, with the largest increases occurring in the third trimester.

Q5: What factors can affect fetal cardiac output?
A: Maternal health conditions, placental function, fetal anomalies, gestational age, and fetal behavioral states can all influence fetal cardiac output measurements.