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Fetal pulmonary artery Doppler waveform: a preliminary report
E Cynober1, D Cabrol, B Haddad
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hôpital Esquirol, Saint Maurice, France.
Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy
|July 1, 1997
Summary
Pulmonary Doppler ultrasound reveals higher pulsatility index in fetuses with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Resistance index remained stable, indicating potential for Doppler assessment in fetal lung development.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Fetal Medicine
- Cardiovascular Physiology
Background:
- Fetal lung circulation assessment is crucial for understanding fetal well-being.
- Pulmonary Doppler ultrasound offers a non-invasive method to evaluate fetal lung vasculature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate fetal lung circulation using pulmonary Doppler ultrasound.
- To assess resistance and pulsatility indices in normal and growth-restricted fetuses.
Main Methods:
- Pulmonary Doppler ultrasound with color pulsed-Doppler (3.5-5 MHz probe) was performed on 47 pregnant women.
- Measured resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) in 50 Doppler waveforms.
- Included fetuses with and without intrauterine fetal growth retardation (IUGR).
Main Results:
- Resistance index and pulsatility index were stable throughout pregnancy.
- Pulmonary pulsatility index was significantly higher in IUGR fetuses (2.71 ± 0.33) compared to normotrophic fetuses (p=0.006).
- No significant difference in resistance index was observed between IUGR and normotrophic fetuses.
Conclusions:
- Pulmonary resistance index does not differ between normotrophic and IUGR fetuses.
- Pulmonary pulsatility index is significantly elevated in IUGR fetuses, suggesting altered pulmonary vascular resistance.
- Further large-scale trials are recommended to validate these findings and explore Doppler's role in fetal lung maturation.