The effect of fetal renal artery Doppler ultrasound on neonatal outcomes in fetuses with ureteropelvic junction type obstruction

Abstract

Objective: Fetal urinary tract dilatation (UTD) is one of the common fetal problems with remarkable difficulties in diagnosis and management in the antenatal and postnatal periods. This study aimed to determine the value of Doppler ultrasound assessment of the renal arteries in fetuses with ureteropelvic junction type hydronephrosis (UPJO) for the prediction of neonatal outcomes of infants. Materials and Methods: Fetal renal artery Doppler values were evaluated in pregnant women between 28-32 weeks. Measurements were taken for Doppler values and the fetal obstruction and were classified through the utilization of UTD classification. Based on postnatal ultrasound, these infants were grouped by UTD classification. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the left renal artery Systolic/Diastolic (S/D) Ratio and bilateral renal artery Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV) values of the control and patient groups, (p<0.05). PSV values were higher in the patient group. The difference between the pulsality index, resistive index, and right renal artery S/D values of the control and patient groups was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: Fetal renal artery Doppler is not effective in predicting the degree of hydronephrosis and renal damage in postnatal follow-up of fetuses with a diagnosis of UPJO.