A clinical study of role of colour Doppler imaging in pregnancies at risk.

Abstract

Aim : To determine the role of colour Doppler sonography in evaluation of fetal outcome in high risk pregnancies and in normal patients. Methods : Study carried out in 23 high risk cases and 10 normal antenatal cases in their third trimester. Studies of various arteries performed using colour Doppler ulatrasound {ESOATE BIOMEDICAL 3 AU TRIPLEX DOPPLER MACHCINE} with 3.5 MHz curvilinear transducer. The umbilical artery and fetal middle cerebral artery studied. The required measurements taken in form of peak systolic velocity and end diastolic velocity and calculation of Systolic/Diastolic(S/D) ratio and Resistive Index(RI) sone and results compared with fetal outcome. Results : The mean weight of the baby 2.13(0.62)kg. 6 babies had respiratory distress and 7 babies had APGAR score at 5’≤7. 9 babies stayed in NICU>24 hours. We had 1 intrauterine death Umbilical artery S/D ratio >3 for the prediction of IUGR had a sensitivity of 69.2% and specificity of 60%, and for the prediction of adverse perinatal outcome had a sensitivity of 76.5% and specificity 100%. RI ratio <1 for the prediction of IUGR had a sensitivity of 46.15% and specificity of 70% and for the prediction of adverse perinatal outcome has a sensitivity of 47.4% and specificity of 100 %. Conclusion : Doppler can be considered as one of the important non invasive technique to assess fetomaternal and uteroplacental circulation. Due to it feasibility and safety it can be used in antepartum surveillance in high risk cases to know pregnancy outcome and also formulate plan of management for optimum fetal and maternal outcome. Key words : colour Doppler, Doppler indices , high risk pregnancy