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Fetal middle cerebral artery Doppler indices and clinical application at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana
Author(s) -
Seffah Joseph D.,
SwarrayDeen Alim
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2015.11.027
Subject(s) - medicine , middle cerebral artery , gestational age , fetus , diastole , appropriate for gestational age , pregnancy , gestation , cardiology , resistive index , obstetrics , small for gestational age , blood flow , blood pressure , ischemia , biology , genetics
Objective To determine normal ranges for various Doppler flow velocity indices of the fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) and their trends in normal pregnancies at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana. Methods A prospective cross‐sectional study was conducted at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in 2015. Included women had a singleton pregnancy of 20–40 weeks' duration, dated using an early ultrasonography scan, and normal fetal growth. Interviews were conducted to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, followed by Doppler ultrasonography of the MCA. The resistive index, pulsatility index, systolic‐to‐diastolic ratio, and peak systolic velocity of the MCA were determined for all participants. Results Overall, 458 pregnant women were recruited. The peak systolic velocity increased with advancing gestational age and a positive correlation of r = 0.725 ( P < 0.001) was demonstrated between the peak systolic velocity and the gestational age. The resistive index, pulsatility index, and systolic‐to‐diastolic ratio of the MCA decreased with advancing gestational age in a parabolic pattern. Conclusion The reference curve for the peak systolic velocity increases with gestational age, whereas the other indices decrease in a parabolic pattern.