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Doppler‐Velocity Waveforms in Ductus Venosus in Normal and Small‐for‐Gestational‐Age Fetuses
Author(s) -
Nakata Masahiko
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1447-0756
pISSN - 1341-8076
DOI - 10.1111/j.1447-0756.1996.tb01062.x
Subject(s) - ductus venosus , medicine , umbilical artery , fetus , gestational age , cardiology , blood flow , small for gestational age , umbilical vein , diastole , pregnancy , blood pressure , biology , biochemistry , genetics , in vitro
Objective : To investigate blood‐flow patterns in ductus venosus in growth‐retarded fetuses. Methods : Reference ranges of ductus venosus flow velocities were constructed from a cross‐sectional study of 179 normal fetuses between 16 to 38 weeks' gestation, and the ductus venosus flow‐velocity waveforms in 11 small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA) fetuses were compared with normal patterns. Results : Of 179 pregnant women who were possible subjects, 175 were employed for the analysis, and ductus venosus flow‐velocity waveforms were obtained in 197 out of 211 examinations (success rate = 93.4%). The peak forward velocities during (a) ventricular systoles, (b) the lowest forward velocities during atrial contractions, and (c) the time‐averaged velocities all linearly increased as gestational ages increased [respectively: (a) slope, 1.135; constant, 31.720; (b) slope, 1.154; constant, 1.557; (c) slope, 1.240; constant, 19.386]. Peak forward velocities during ventricular systoles and time‐averaged velocities in the SGA group did not differ from those of the normal group. Three SGA fetuses with abnormal flow in the umbilical artery showed a marked reduction of the lowest velocities during atrial contractions in the ductus venosus, and two of them showed no forward velocity at all. Conclusion : The Doppler‐velocity waveforms of ductus venosus showed a marked reduction of the end diastolic flow, especially in SGA fetuses with abnormal umbilical artery flows.