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F56Blood velocity in fetal Galen vein and outcome of pregnancy
Author(s) -
Gudmundsson S.,
Dubiel M.,
Breborowicz G. H.,
Laurini R.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-0705.2000.00015-1-56.x
Subject(s) - medicine , umbilical vein , vein , fetus , fetal distress , pregnancy , umbilical artery , obstetrics , middle cerebral artery , blood flow , cardiology , surgery , biochemistry , chemistry , ischemia , biology , in vitro , genetics
Background Pulsating blood velocity in the umbilical vein is an indicator of fetal compromise with poor outcome. Blood velocity in the fetal vein of Galen is normally even and without fluctuation. The propose of this study was to establish whether blood flow velocity pulsations in the Galen vein seen in high‐risk pregnancies were also related to adverse outcome of pregnancy. Methods The vein of Galen was located by color Doppler ultrasound in 102 pregnancies complicated by pregnancy‐induced hypertension and blood velocity recorded by pulsed Doppler within 2 days of delivery. The presence of blood velocity pulsation's was noted and correlated to perinatal outcome, including emergency operative intervention and/or neonatal distress. Umbilical artery and venous, uterine and middle cerebral artery blood velocity was also recorded at the same time. Results Pulsating blood velocity in the vein of galen was found in 68 cases and in the umbilical vein in 21. Venous pulsations were highly significantly related to adverse outcome of pregnancy. Pulsations in the Galen vein were three times more frequent than in the umbilical vein, suggesting that it appears earlier than in the umbilical vein. In all the 7 perinatal deaths there were pulsations in the Galen vein. Signs of brain sparing in the middle cerebral artery were seen in only 32 fetuses. Conclusion Venous pulsations in the umbilical and Galen vein were both significantly correlated to adverse outcome of high‐risk pregnancy. Pulsations in the vein of Galen seem to occur earlier than in the umbilical vein, which might be helpful when deciding the timing of delivery of a high‐risk case with minimal neonatal morbidity.