The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
2010 , Vol 52 , Num 4
Fetal arterial and venous Doppler in growth restricted fetuses for the prediction of perinatal complications
1Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and 3Neonatology Unit, Department of
Pediatrics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, and 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MESA Hospital,
Ankara, Turkey
Fetal arterial and venous Doppler is a useful tool for the monitoring of
growth restricted fetuses. Our aim in this study was to compare outcomes
when fetuses were grouped according to the combinations of the Doppler
results and also according to each vessel Doppler. Deliveries during the period
2002-2008 were reviewed retrospectively and cases with a birth weight less
than the 10th percentile were selected for the study. Cases with congenital
malformations or chromosomal abnormalities were excluded. Cases were then
grouped according to umbilical artery (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA)
and ductus venosus (DV) Doppler results. Two hundred fifty-five cases were
selected for the study. The perinatal mortality rate was 9.8% (11 prenatal
and 14 neonatal). In the presence of absent or reverse flow in UA, fetal
death and neonatal complication rates were higher. In the fetuses having
reverse or absent “a” wave, there were findings of metabolic deterioration.
Absent-reverse UA end-diastolic flow increased the odds ratios of perinatal
and fetal death, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), necrotizing enterocolitis
(NEC), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), and need for neonatal intensive
care unit (NICU) (2.81, 5.94, 10.82, 5.79, 5.19, and 11.60, respectively).
Absent/reverse “a” wave in DV increased the odds ratio of perinatal death,
fetal death, neonatal death, RDS, and abnormal pH (19.89, 18.06, 12.50, 8.29,
and 9.67, respectively). For prediction of fetal metabolic status, DV Doppler
is a reliable tool. However, when perinatal complications are considered, this
finding for intervention to delivery is a late point. Therefore, when reverse
end-diastolic flow in the UA is observed, decision-to-delivery should be taken
in order to avoid metabolic deterioration and increased postpartum death.
Keywords :
intrauterine growth restriction, Doppler, ultrasonography, perinatal death,
perinatal morbidity.