Doppler blood velocity waveforms in the umbilical artery as an indicator of fetal well-being

✍ Scribed by Dr. Deborah M. Friedman; Monika Rutkowski; Jon R. Snyder; Ilana Lustig-Gillman; Bruce K. Young

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1985
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 889 KB
• Volume: 13
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0091-2751
• DOI: 10.1002/jcu.1870130303

✦ Synopsis

Doppler blood velocity waveforms were analyzed from the umbilical artery as an indication of fetal well-being. Since the ratio of systolic to diastolic peak flows (A/ B) reflects placental vascular resistance, an abnormality of this value may accurately predict compromised fetuses. Twenty-one studies were performed on 13 patients, using a new duplex system for real-time imaging and range-gated' pulsed Doppler analysis, and compared to normal standards. Thirteen studies done in nine uneventful pregnancies were consistently normal. However, abnormal studies were found in the four pa- tients reported as case histories, including women with sickle cell anemia, systemic lupus, diabetes, and growth retardation. The A/B ratio was felt to have predicted potential fetal compromise, including the two fetal deaths. Therefore, with certain cautions, we feel that this rapid, non-invasive technique is useful as a serially applicable reflector of the status of fetoplacental circulation. Indexing Words: Doppler e Umbilical artery Recently, advanced ultrasound imaging systems have been applied to fetal cardiovascular structures to obtain information concerning normal developmental anatomy and growth parameters and specific congenital anomalies or functional However, these methods do not necessarily provide immediate dynamic information on the functional integrity of the fetoplacental unit. The Doppler velocity waveform in the umbilical artery as a n indicator of the status of the fetoplacental circulatory unit has been described for normal gestation, parturition, and certain high risk pregnan~ies.~.'

This report documents our results on the use of Doppler blood velocity waveform determinations, including four cases of abnormal flow patterns. The significance and potential usefulness of this technique will be discussed.