Simultaneous assessment of blood flow velocity waveforms in uteroplacental vessels, the umbilical artery, the fetal aorta and the fetal common carotid artery.

We investigated simultaneously blood flow velocity waveforms of uteroplacental vessels, the umbilical artery, the fetal aorta and the fetal common carotid artery. In pregnancies with intrauterine growth retardation or preeclampsia we found low diastolic velocities in uteroplacental vessels, the umbilical artery and the fetal aorta and high diastolic velocities in the common carotid artery. Abnormal waveforms of the common carotid artery were most effective in predicting fetal compromise and might be a valuable clinical tool for the supervision and therapy of high-risk pregnancies in the future.