Summary:
Objectives: To study pregnancy outcomes in growth
restricted fetuses with normal umbilical artery velocimetry,
low end-diastolic umbilical flow, and absent or reversed
diastolic flow. Methods: Fifty pregnant women with growth
restricted fetuses were evaluated by umbilical artery
velocimetry between 28 and 39 weeks of pregnancy. Outcome
of pregnancy was recorded for the normal Doppler group
(n=17; 34%), the low end diastolic flow group (n=23; 46%),
the group with absent diastolic flow (n=8; 16%) and the
group with reversed diastolic flow (n=2; 4%). Results: The
average birth weight, diagnosis to delivery interval and
gestational age at delivery were comparatively lower in case
of abnormal umbilical Doppler velocimetry group. Again
there was higher incidence of LSCS for fetal distress, Apgar
score <7 at 1 minute, admission to neonatal intensive care
unit and perinatal death with those of the abnormal
umbilical Doppler velocimetry. Conclusion: Doppler study
of umbilical artery allows a noninvasive assessment of
uteroplacental insufficiency and is an accurate method for
diagnosis and management of fetal growth retardation.
Key Words: Intrauterine Growth Retardation, Doppler,
Umbilical Artery Velocimetry.