The significance of absent end-diastolic flow in the umbilical artery combined with reduced fetal cardiac output estimation in pregnancies at high risk for placental insufficiency

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In 138 pregnancies with suspected intra-uterine growth retardation, the umbilical artery flow velocity waveforms and fetal cardiac output estimations were correlated with the outcome of the pregnancy. Eighty-one cases had normal umbilical artery flow velocity waveform patterns and 57 cases had abnormal patterns, 19 of which had absence or reversal of end-diastolic velocity on Doppler examination. Eleven had reduced fetal cardiac output; these were all fetuses with absent end-diastolic velocity and all died. Cases with absent end-diastolic flow were more likely to have caesarean section for fetal distress, low Apgar scores, small for dates babies, neonatal intensive care admissions, a lower gestational age at delivery and a higher perinatal mortality rate in comparison with other groups. Absent or reversed end-diastolic velocity is indicative of severe fetal compromise, especially when associated with reduced fetal cardiac output.