Potential for diagnosing imminent risk to appropriate- and small-for-gestational-age fetuses by Doppler sonographic examination of umbilical and cerebral arterial blood flow.

In a prospective study, 215 pregnancies of known gestational age were investigated using Doppler sonography. Multiple pregnancies and pregnancies complicated by fetal malformations were excluded. A pulsed Doppler machine was used to record the flow velocity waveforms in the umbilical artery (UA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA). The pulsatility index (PI) of both vessels and the ratio of PI UA to PI MCA were calculated. A total of 127 pregnancies ended in the birth of appropriate-for-gestational age babies with no perinatal problems; these formed the normal group (Group A). Of the 88 pregnancies which made up the risk group, 17 were appropriate-for-gestational age babies with perinatal problems (Group B), 55 were small-for-gestational-age babies with no perinatal problems (Group C), and 16 were small-for-gestational age babies with perinatal problems (Group D). Normal ranges were calculated based on the results for Group A; the measured values for the risk groups were then compared to these. There were highly significant differences between values obtained from the risk groups and those of Group A with the exception of the umbilical artery in Group B and the middle cerebral artery in Group C. The best results came from the values for MCA in Group B (sensitivity = 71%), UA in Group D (sensitivity = 75%), and the PI ratio UA : MCA in Group D (sensitivity = 81%). The sensitivity for the ratio in Group D increased to 93% if only the last measurement for each patient taken within 14 days of delivery was analyzed. A drop in the MCA PI in appropriate-for-gestational-age fetuses was the best indicator of imminent risk of hypoxemia. The PI ratio of UA : MCA is valuable in monitoring small-for-gestational-age fetuses, particularly those with high UA PI levels, as a rise in the ratio provides an early indication of fetal risk. Copyright 1992 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology