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Umbilical artery flow velocity waveforms in fetuses dying with congenital anomalies
Author(s) -
HSIEH FONJOU,
CHANG FONGMING,
KO TSANGMING,
CHEN HSIYAO,
CHEN YUANPING
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.tb12800.x
Subject(s) - umbilical artery , fetus , cardiology , medicine , waveform , pregnancy , physics , biology , genetics , quantum mechanics , voltage
Summary. Absent or reversed diastolic component in umbilical artery (UA) flow velocity waveform was observed in eight fetuses with major malformations. Because of the uncorrectable fetal conditions or the parents' reluctance to terminate the pregnancy, no interventions were undertaken and eventually all eight fetuses died in utero . The interval between the abnormal waveform recording and fetal death was between 1 and 7 days (mean 3.6 days). In two fetuses with abnormal diastolic flow, analysis of umbilical vein blood obtained by ultrasound‐guided sampling revealed moderately severe acidosis and hypoxia (pH 7.228 and 7.241, Pco 2 47.5 and 46.9 mmHg; Po 2 14.6 and 14.7 mmHg, respectively). Our observation suggests that once the diastolic component of UA flow velocity waveforms becomes absent or reversed, the fetus is in a state of hypoxia and acidosis and fetal death is impending. This limited experience may help in formulating clinical management when using UA flow velocity waveforms in the monitoring of high‐risk fetuses.