English

Abstract

BACKGROUND One of the most common complications of pregnancy is preeclampsia, characterized by abnormal placental development, leading to inadequate uteroplacental blood flow. Doppler ultrasonography can pick up these abnormalities; thus, it is a useful tool to assess fetal outcome. Objective is to calculate the role of colour Doppler (umbilical and middle cerebral artery) in predicting the perinatal outcome. We wanted to evaluate the application of Doppler ultrasound in analysing the blood flow velocity waveform. METHODS This was a cross sectional study carried out between May 2010 - November 2012 in Obstetrics Department, Yenepoya Medical College, Karnataka, among 150 pregnant women with preeclampsia. RESULTS 49.3 % of patients belonged to 25 - 30 years, 58.7 % were primigravida, and 73.3 % and 26.7 % had mild and severe preeclampsia respectively. Patients with increased resistance umbilical artery Doppler - 63.8 % had babies < 2.5 Kg birth weight, 60.9 % Apgar < 7 at 5 minutes of birth and 67.5 % neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions; absent end diastolic flow - all had birth weight < 2 Kg, 90 % Apgar < 7 at 5 minutes, 1 neonatal death and all required NICU admissions; reversal end diastolic flow - 1 neonatal death, all had birth weight < 2.5 Kg, an Apgar < 7 at 5 minutes and required NICU admission. Patients with abnormal Doppler in middle cerebral artery, 46.2 % were low birth weight and had Apgar < 7 at 5 minutes, 50 % required NICU admissions, but no perinatal mortality. CONCLUSIONS Doppler analysis helps in early detection of uteroplacental and fetoplacental changes and to take decisions for early interventions, like administration of steroids for fetal lung maturity and transferring preterm pregnancies to higher centres for better NICU facilities. Umbilical artery Doppler findings are slightly better predictors of adverse perinatal outcome than an abnormal middle cerebral artery. KEYWORDS Doppler, Preeclampsia, Perinatal Outcome, Umbilical Artery, Middle Cerebral Artery