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Vol 86, No 8 (2015)
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Use of Doppler in a second half of pregnancy

Jakub Kornacki, Jana Skrzypczak
DOI: 10.17772/gp/57867
·
Ginekol Pol 2015;86(8).

open access

Vol 86, No 8 (2015)
ARTICLES

Abstract

The article is a review of the literature on the use and clinical applicability of Doppler examination in the second half of pregnancy. Nowadays, despite its accessibility, Doppler ultrasound in pregnancy is often contraindicated. At the same time, the is no evidence of clinical utility of Doppler studies in a low-risk pregnancy. The main indications for Doppler examinations in pregnancy include intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), suspicion of fetal anemia, and complications of monochorionic twin pregnancy. As far as IUGR is concerned, Doppler allows to diagnose IUGR associated with placental insufficiency and to differentiate IUGR from small for gestational age fetuses (SGA). Doppler is also very useful in making the decision about the time of delivery of IUGR fetuses. The assessment of the peak systolic velocity in the middle cerebral artery (PSV-MVA) reduced the rate of invasive procedures due to fetal anemia by approximately 70%. Complications of the second half of pregnancy which are indications for Doppler ultrasound include selective IUGR, TTTS and TAPS. Similarly to the first trimester, the mid-trimester assessment of the blood flow in the uterine arteries plays an important role in the prediction of preeclampsia and IUGR, especially early-onset forms of these complications.

Abstract

The article is a review of the literature on the use and clinical applicability of Doppler examination in the second half of pregnancy. Nowadays, despite its accessibility, Doppler ultrasound in pregnancy is often contraindicated. At the same time, the is no evidence of clinical utility of Doppler studies in a low-risk pregnancy. The main indications for Doppler examinations in pregnancy include intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), suspicion of fetal anemia, and complications of monochorionic twin pregnancy. As far as IUGR is concerned, Doppler allows to diagnose IUGR associated with placental insufficiency and to differentiate IUGR from small for gestational age fetuses (SGA). Doppler is also very useful in making the decision about the time of delivery of IUGR fetuses. The assessment of the peak systolic velocity in the middle cerebral artery (PSV-MVA) reduced the rate of invasive procedures due to fetal anemia by approximately 70%. Complications of the second half of pregnancy which are indications for Doppler ultrasound include selective IUGR, TTTS and TAPS. Similarly to the first trimester, the mid-trimester assessment of the blood flow in the uterine arteries plays an important role in the prediction of preeclampsia and IUGR, especially early-onset forms of these complications.
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Keywords

preeclampsia, twin pregnancy, IUGR, fetal anemia, Doppler examination

About this article
Title

Use of Doppler in a second half of pregnancy

Journal

Ginekologia Polska

Issue

Vol 86, No 8 (2015)

Page views

943

Article views/downloads

12971

DOI

10.17772/gp/57867

Bibliographic record

Ginekol Pol 2015;86(8).

Keywords

preeclampsia
twin pregnancy
IUGR
fetal anemia
Doppler examination

Authors

Jakub Kornacki
Jana Skrzypczak

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