Introduction: Our objective was to compare the fetal growth velocity and fetal hemodynamics in pregnancies complicated and in those not complicated by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Material and methods: Prospective case-control study of consecutive pregnancies complicated by SARS-CoV-2 infection during the second half of pregnancy matched with unaffected women. The z scores of head circumference, abdominal circumference, femur length, and estimated fetal weight were compared between the two groups. Fetal growth was assessed by analyzing the growth velocity of head circumference, abdominal circumference, femur length, and estimated fetal weight between the second-and third-trimester scans. Similarly, changes in the pulsatility index of uterine, umbilical, and middle cerebral arteries, and their ratios were compared between the two study groups. Results: Forty-nine consecutive pregnancies complicated, and 98 not complicated, by SARS-CoV-2 infection were included. General baseline and pregnancy characteristics were similar between pregnant women with and those without SARS-CoV-2 infection. There was no difference in head circumference, abdominal circumference, femur length, and estimated fetal weight z scores between pregnancies complicated and those not complicated by SARS-CoV-2 infection at both the second-and thirdtrimester scans. Likewise, there was no difference in the growth velocity of all these body parameters between the two study groups. Finally, there was no difference in the pulsatility index of both maternal and fetal Doppler scans throughout gestation between the two groups. Conclusions: Pregnancies complicated by SARS-CoV-2 infection are not at higher risk of developing fetal growth restriction through impaired placental function. The findings from this study do not support a policy of increased fetal surveillance in these women.
Introduction:The objective was to report the role of intrapartum ultrasound examination in affecting maternal and perinatal outcome in women undergoing instrumental vaginal delivery.Material and methods: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Google Scholar and ClinicalTrial. gov databases were searched. Inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials comparing ultrasound assessment of fetal head position vs routine standard care (digital examination) before instrumental vaginal delivery (either vacuum or forceps).
Objective
To evaluate brain biometry and cortical development by neurosonography in fetuses with congenital heart defect (CHD) and evaluate differences among different type of CHD.
Methods
In a prospective cross sectional study singleton fetus with CHD were matched with controls and grouped into two categories according to the predicted severity of cerebral arterial oxygen deficit induced by the CHD: Group A mildly reduced or normal and Group B moderately to severely reduced. Neurosonography was done at 30–33 weeks to obtain measurements of corpus callosum (CC), cerebellar vermis (CV), Sylvian fissure (SF) insula, parieto‐occipital fissure (POF), and calcarine sulci fissures (CSF). All the neurosonographic parameters were adjusted by head circumference (HC).
Results
A total of 78 fetuses with CHD (group A 30; group B 48) and 80 matched controls form uncomplicated pregnancies were considered. CHD fetuses have significantly smaller CC, CV, SF, and POF and bigger insula when compared to control fetuses. These differences are more marked in group B fetuses. These differences remained significant after correction for HC values.
Conclusion
Fetuses with CHD have an impaired cortical development and these variations are more evident in those with a predicted lower oxygen delivery to the brain.
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