When to request Doppler velocimetry?

Doppler velocimetry is a way to make sure that your baby is getting a healthy supply of blood. You may need it if earlier tests showed that your baby could be having problems. Maybe your baby is growing slowly or has anemia. You may also need the test if you have preeclampsia or have a low level of amniotic fluid.

What is uterine artery Doppler velocimetry?

Uterine artery Doppler velocimetry is an indirect measure of uterine artery vascular resistance (Fig. 39.1). As gestation advances in normal pregnancies, there should be a progressive decrease in uterine vascular resistance, which is thought to reflect adequate trophoblastic invasion into maternal spiral arterioles.

What does high PI in pregnancy mean?

Uterine artery PI provides a measure of uteroplacental perfusion and high PI implies impaired placentation with consequent increased risk of developing preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, abruption and stillbirth. The uterine artery PI is considered to be increased if it is above the 90th centile.

How to identify uterine artery Doppler?

Gently tilt the transducer from side to side using color flow mapping to identify the uterine arteries. When you apply color Doppler, narrow the color box and adjust the velocity scale and the filter. 4. Record at least three consecutive uniform waveforms.

Why is umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry done?

Umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry should be used in the management of the intrauterine growth restricted fetuses, as it helps in differentiating fetus with pathological growth restriction at risk for perinatal complications from small and healthy fetuses.

What is the role of Doppler velocimetry in evaluating a pregnancy complicated by fetal growth restriction?

Doppler velocimetry allows the measurement of hemodynamic flow of major fetal vessels, comparing the flow indices and patterns of normal and IUGR cases.

How can I lower my PI during pregnancy?

Conclusion: Low-dose aspirin administered as early as 14-16 weeks of gestation to pregnant women at high risk of preeclampsia with abnormal uterine Doppler findings may reduce or modify the course of severe preeclampsia. Its effects on the prevention of IUGR need further evaluation.

What is maternal uterine artery Doppler?

Uterine artery Doppler waveform analysis has been extensively studied in the second trimester of pregnancy as a predictive marker for the later development of preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. The use of Doppler interrogation of this vessel in the first trimester has gained momentum in recent years.

What is umbilical artery velocimetry?

Umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry measurements reflect resistance to blood flow from the fetus to the placenta. Factors that affect placental resistance include gestational age, placental location, pregnancy complications (placental abruption, preeclampsia), and underlying maternal disease (chronic hypertension).

How is Doppler velocimetry used to assess placental blood flow?

Doppler velocimetry is used in conjunction with anatomic US to functionally assess placental blood flow (Abramowicz and Sheiner, 2008 ). Fetal villous vascular damage results in high resistance in the umbilical artery (UA) circulation, and chronic fetal hypoxia decreases umbilical venous flow.

Why is the umbilical artery a target for Doppler?

Doppler. Because of placental capacitance, the umbilical artery is one of the few arteries that normally has forward diastolic flow, and it is one of the most frequently targeted vessels during pregnancy. Umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry measurements reflect resistance to blood flow from the fetus to the placenta.

What is transcranial Doppler velocimetry?

Transcranial Doppler velocimetry, a noninvasive test, has been used to assess cerebral blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery. The procedure is performed by placing an ultrasound transducer over the temporal window and interrogating the brain circulation at a depth of 35–66 mm.

Is Doppler ultrasound useful for prediction of peripheral artery enlargement?

Doppler Ultrasound (US) evaluation has been considered a useful method for prediction of PE; however, there is no complete data about the most frequently altered US parameters in the pathology.