Clinical significance of ultrasonic examination of fetal and placental circulation
Illyés, M.; Doszpod, J.; Gáti, I.
Orvosi Hetilap 128(12): 613-618
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0030-6002 PMID: 3554098 Document Number: 297872
The authors present the Doppler ultrasound method of the examinations of placental and fetal circulation. They have accomplished their measures on the fetal descending aorta, on the umbilical arteries and on the arcuate arteries of the myometrium and they describe the features of circulation of these vessels in uncomplicated pregnancies and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). On the basis of their results they establish that there is a determinant role of examinations on the descending aorta and on the umbilical arteries in the assessment of fetal well-being. They observed pathological circulations of 67% in IUGR cases though where the IUGR was caused by maternal hypertension 83% of decreased blood flow with missing end-diastolic velocity was found. These results are in good agreement with previous radioisotopic observations, which showed that not all of IUGR cases can be featured by disturbed circulation. They had observed in the most severe forms of IUGR, where intrauterine death followed, that a reversal of the diastolic blood flow on the descending aorta could be found preceding 24 hours of the actual fetal death. Upon their opinion the pregnancy has to be terminated much earlier. On the basis of their experience up till now the appropriate time for termination is, when a complet disappearance of diastolic flow can be observed both on the umbilical arteries and on the fetal descending aorta, as well.