Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  1998 Jan;41(1):200-204.

The Relationship between Umbilical-Cerebral Doppler Ratio and Umbilical Artery Gas Analysis

• Won HS
• Shin MS
• Kang JA
• Lee PY
• Lee IS
• Kim A
• Mok JE

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To assess Doppler flow imaging to determine the relationship between umbilical-cerebral Doppler ratio and fetal hypoxia. To establish the cut-off value of umbilical-cerebral artery pulsatility index ratio for prediction of fetal hypoxia. DESIGN: Prospective study. SUBJECTS: Forty-four normal controls and thirty high risk fetuses at 30 to 42 weeks of gestation. INTERVENTIONS: Blood flow velocity waveforms from the umbilical and fetal middle cerebral artery were studied with Doppler color flow imaging for measurement of peak systolic, end-diastolic, time averaged maximum velocities and calculation of pulsatility index. Umbilical artery gas analysis was done immediately after delivery.
RESULTS
There was negative correlation between umbilical-middle cerebral PI ratio and cord PaO2 (r = -0.65, p < 0.05). Cut-off value of 0.8 for umbilical-middle cerebral PI ratio to predict fetal hypoxia: sensitivity 80%, specificity 85%.
CONCLUSION
Middle cerebral artery Doppler waveforms are useful for evaluation of fetal hypoxia.

Keyword

Middle cerebral artery; Umbilical artery; Doppler velocimetry; Fetal hypoxia

MeSH Terms

Arteries
Blood Flow Velocity
Fetal Hypoxia
Fetus
Middle Cerebral Artery
Pregnancy
Prospective Studies
Sensitivity and Specificity
Umbilical Arteries*