ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIAL OF DOPPLER MEASUREMENTS OF FETAL AND UTEROPLACENTAL CIRCULATIONS IN THIRD TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY.

Abstract

Background: Color Doppler measurements of fetal and uteroplacental circulation in intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and hypoxia have revealed a redistribution of arterial blood ow with the increased ow to the cerebrum and myocardium and decreased ow to the periphery. This study aimed to evaluate the signicance of changes in fetal Doppler parameters in IIIrd trimester and correlate it to the fetal outcome. Method & Results: This cross-sectional study consisted of 50 pregnancies with clinical suspicion of IUGR. The mean birth weight at delivery was 2.43 Kg +/- 0.26kg (SD). 60% of neonates (n=30) had a birth weight of less than 2.5kg. 48% of fetuses (n=24) had adverse outcomes while the remaining 26 fetuses had a favorable outcome. There were 7 intrauterine deaths (IUDs) and 43 live births. Eight neonates out of 43 live births were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). 7 neonates had a "5 minute Apgar score of less than 7" and 12 babies were borne by emergency caesarian section. Our studies conrm that best results are obtained when we used M Conclusion: CA /UA PI Ratio, rather than PIs of MCA and UA separately. The diagnostic accuracy of the MCA/UA PI ratio is 84% when compared to 80 for UAPI and 68.8% for MCA PI. There were 7 IUDs in whom 4 cases had a reversal of diastolic ow in the umbilical artery and 3 had absent diastolic ow