Comparison of Variations Between Spectral Doppler and Gaussian Surface Integration Methods for Umbilical Vein Blood Volume Flow

Abstract

Objectives We are studying a new method for estimating blood volume flow that uses 3‐dimensional ultrasound to measure the total integrated flux through an ultrasound‐generated Gaussian surface that intersects the umbilical cord. This method makes none of the assumptions typically required with standard 1‐dimensional spectral Doppler volume flow estimates. We compared the variations in volume flow estimates between techniques in the umbilical vein. Methods The study was Institutional Review Board approved, and all 12 patients gave informed consent. Because we had no reference standard for the true umbilical vein volume flow, we compared the variations of the measurements for the flow measurement techniques. At least 3 separate spectral Doppler and 3 separate Gaussian surface measurements were made along the umbilical vein. Means, standard deviations, and coefficients of variation (standard deviation/mean) for the flow estimation techniques were calculated for each patient. P < .05 was considered significant. Results The ranges of the mean volume flow estimates were 174 to 577 mL/min for the spectral Doppler method and 100 to 341 mL/min for the Gaussian surface integration (GSI) method. The mean standard deviations (mean ± SD) were 161 ± 95 and 45 ± 48 mL/min for the spectral Doppler and GSI methods, respectively (P < .003). The mean coefficients of variation were 0.46 ± 0.17 and 0.18 ± 0.14 for the spectral Doppler and GSI methods respectively (P < 0.002). Conclusions The new volume flow estimation method using 3‐dimensional ultrasound appears to have significantly less variation in estimates than the standard 1‐dimensional spectral Doppler method.

Ultrasonographic Tissue Perfusion in Peri-implant Health and Disease

“…The mean phase shift is computed to derive velocity information, whereas the integrated power of the phase-shifted signal is used to compute the CP to form B-mode superimposed 2D CP images (Chan and Kripfgans 2020). These facets of ultrasonography and the quantified measurements of CV and CP (used as a surrogate for tissue perfusion) have become a milestone across a diversity of medical disciplines and grown to be a full portion of diagnostics, in particular for distinguishing normal from abnormal blood flow (Pinter et al 2015;Oglat et al 2018;Pinter et al 2018;Rubin et al 2021).…”

Fetal and Neonatal Middle Cerebral Artery Hemodynamic Changes and Significance under Ultrasound Detection in Hypertensive Disorder Complicating Pregnancy Patients with Different Severities

“…The interstitial fibrosis worsens, and fibrous material is deposited, reducing the volume of fetal placental blood circulation and impeding fetal growth and development. Rubin et al [ 22 ] pointed out that venous blood flow was reduced in fetuses with abnormal Doppler spectra of UA significantly. In the waveform of DV, the degree of downward deflection is proportional to the risk of fetal death or multisystem organ failure.…”

“…Changes in blood flow of UA are the earliest identifiable Doppler signals of early placental insufficiency. During normal fetal growth and development, the Qdv/Quv plays a vital role in regulating [ 22 , 25 , 26 ]. When the fetus is hypoxic, the DV dilates, the proportion of blood flow from UV into DV increases, and the Qdv/Quv increases sharply.…”

Umbilical Vein Pulse Wave Spectral Analysis: A Possible Method for Placental Assessment Through Evaluation of Maternal and Fetal Flow Components

“…The RAB6‐D is a mechanical 3D probe while the X6‐1 and XL14‐3 transducers are 2D arrays capable of 3D imaging. The 3D acquisitions were required in order to measure umbilical cord blood volume flow using the Gaussian surface integration method 15–20 . However, umbilical venous spectra were acquired in standard 1D pulse wave (PW) mode with Doppler angles less than 60° in all cases.…”

“…The 3D acquisitions were required in order to measure umbilical cord blood volume flow using the Gaussian surface integration method. [15][16][17][18][19][20] However, umbilical venous spectra were acquired in standard 1D pulse wave (PW) mode with Doppler angles less than 60 in all cases. The pulse repetition frequencies (PRF) were set to prevent aliasing.…”