Ductus venosus revisited: A Doppler blood flow evaluation in the first trimester of pregnancy

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 1997

Authors

Montenegro N (Author) FMUP; matias, a (Author) FMUP; Areias JC (Author) FMUP; Barros H (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology

Vol. 23

Pages: 171-176

ISSN: 0301-5629

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 41 Citations

Scopus - 50 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-001-D0Z

DOI: 10.1016/s0301-5629(96)00202-5

Abstract (EN): The functional role of the fetal ductus venosus (DV) is still poorly established, Few reports are available in the literature concerning assessment of fetal venous return during the late first trimester of pregnancy, Our objective was to determine the normal Doppler blood velocity waveform in the human fetal DV as early as 10-13 weeks gestation. Adopting strict methodological concerns, 61 Doppler blood flow evaluations of the DV considered technically acceptable were selected. Using transvaginal Doppler ultrasound, several DV haemodynamic parameters were assessed: peak systolic and diastolic velocities, time-averaged velocity, maximum velocity during atrial contraction, pulsatility index and fetal heart rate (FHR). Except for the FHR, no significant variations were observed for the above mentioned parameters during this period, and no correlation could be established between FHR and the different flow velocity parameters, Further knowledge about DV haemodynamics in the early phases of pregnancy may make a valuable contribution to the understanding of fetal venous return to the heart and cardiac function. (C) 1997 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6