[Doppler ultrasonography in obstetrics. New aspects in prenatal diagnosis]

Doppler blood velocity waveforms of the uteroplacental and the fetoplacental circulation during normal und pathological pregnancies are described. Doppler sonography of fetal vessels identifies very well the jeopardized fetuses out of a high risk group of fetuses with intrauterine growth retardation (sensitivity 100%, specificity 85%, positive predictive value 63%, negative predictive value 100%). Centralization of the fetal circulation and absence or reversal of end diastolic flow in the umbilical artery demand intensive fetal monitoring.