The significance of absent end-diastolic flow in the umbilical artery combined with reduced fetal cardiac output estimation in pregnancies at high risk for placental insufficiency

Fetal and umbilical Doppler ultrasound in high-risk pregnancies

“…This redistribution of the blood flow allows preferential oxygenation of fetal vital organs such as brain and heart. Late Doppler changes include absent or reverse end diastolic flow in the umbilical artery (Al-Ghazali 1990; Nicholaides 1988) and increase in the resistance of venous blood flow (ductus venosus and inferior vena cava) (Baschat 2001; Ferrazzi 2002). Higher resistance in venous circulation reflects the elevation of right heart afterload and increase of the intraventricular pressure caused by hypoxaemia of the myocardium.…”

Fetal and umbilical Doppler ultrasound in high-risk pregnancies

“…This redistribution of the blood flow allows preferential oxygenation of fetal vital organs such as brain and heart. Late Doppler changes include absent or reverse end diastolic flow in the umbilical artery (Al-Ghazali 1990;Nicholaides 1988) and increase in the resistance of venous blood flow (ductus venosus and inferior vena cava) (Baschat 2001;Ferrazzi 2002). Higher resistance in venous circulation reflects the elevation of right heart afterload and increase of the intraventricular pressure caused by hypoxaemia of the myocardium.…”