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Blood flow velocity waveforms in large maternal and uterine vessels throughout pregnancy and postpartum: a longitudinal study using Duplex sonography
Author(s) -
BAUMANN H.,
KIRKINEN P.,
MUELLER R.,
SCHNARWYLER B.,
HUGH A.,
HUGH R.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1988.tb06819.x
Subject(s) - medicine , uterine artery , blood flow , pregnancy , gestation , femoral artery , femoral vein , fetus , hemodynamics , obstetrics , cardiology , biology , genetics
Summary. Blood flow velocity waveforms in large maternal and uterine vessels were measured longitudinally from 16 weeks gestation onwards until 12 weeks postpartum in 21 singleton pregnancies by duplex sonography. In the maternal carotid artery, time average mean velocity (TAVmean) did not show significant changes. In both the femoral artery and vein, however, significant changes were observed. In the femoral artery, TAVmean and systolic maximum velocities decreased with advancing gestation. In the femoral vein, TAVmean remained constant throughout pregnancy and was lower than postpartum. The resistance index in the uterine arteries decreased with advancing gestation and increased after delivery. Among many factors contributing to femoral arterial blood flow velocity changes in pregnancy, we suggest that a major one is the increase in uterine blood flow. Reduction in venous femoral blood flow velocity and increase in the femoral vein diameter might be associated with the common occurrence of venous disorders in pregnancy.