The Relationship between Umbilical-Cerebral Doppler Ratio and Umbilical Artery Gas Analysis.

Won, H S; Shin, M S; Kang, J A; Lee, P Y; Lee, I S; Kim, A; Mok, J E

Original Article

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 1998;41(1):200-204.
Published online January 1, 2001.

The Relationship between Umbilical-Cerebral Doppler Ratio and Umbilical Artery Gas Analysis.

H S Won, M S Shin, J A Kang, P Y Lee, I S Lee, A Kim, J E Mok

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To assess Doppler flow imaging to determine the relationship between umbilical-cerebral Doppler ratio and fetal hypoxia. To establish the cut-off value of umbilical-cerebral artery pulsatility index ratio for prediction of fetal hypoxia. DESIGN: Prospective study. SUBJECTS: Forty-four normal controls and thirty high risk fetuses at 30 to 42 weeks of gestation. INTERVENTIONS: Blood flow velocity waveforms from the umbilical and fetal middle cerebral artery were studied with Doppler color flow imaging for measurement of peak systolic, end-diastolic, time averaged maximum velocities and calculation of pulsatility index. Umbilical artery gas analysis was done immediately after delivery. RESULTS: There was negative correlation between umbilical-middle cerebral PI ratio and cord PaO2 (r = -0.65, p < 0.05). Cut-off value of 0.8 for umbilical-middle cerebral PI ratio to predict fetal hypoxia: sensitivity 80%, specificity 85%. CONCLUSION: Middle cerebral artery Doppler waveforms are useful for evaluation of fetal hypoxia.

Key Words: Middle cerebral artery, Umbilical artery, Doppler velocimetry, Fetal hypoxia