Triple vessel wave pattern by Doppler studies in normal and high risk pregnancies and perinatal outcome

Abstract

To evaluate the role of triple vessel (umbilical, middle cerebral and uterine artery) color Doppler study in normal and high risk pregnancy in relation to perinatal outcome. Aprospective study was done including fifty women with high risk pregnancy and 50 normal pregnant women during the year 2006–2007. Doppler examination was done after recording patients’ history, clinical examination and ultrasound. Mode of delivery, perinatal outcome including birth weight, perinatal death, Apgar score at 1 and 5 minutes and admission to nursery were compared. There was significant difference between the Doppler indices of the three vessels in the study and the control group. In women with abnormal Doppler indices, there was high incidence of cesarean section (78%), low birth weight babies, low Apgar score, higher admission rate to nursery (36%) and high incidence of neonatal deaths as compared to that of the control group. Triple vessel color Doppler sonography is very useful in high risk pregnancy diagnosis and in predicting perinatal outcome.