Doppler parameters in predicting intrapartum fetal distress and adverse neonatal outcomes

DOPPLER PARAMETERS İN PREDICTING İNTRAPARTUM FETAL DİSTRESS AND ADVERSE NEONATAL OUTCOMES Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the distribution of umbilical venous flow rates and uterine artery umblical artery and middle cerebral artery doppler parameters measured in early labor, in a cohort of normal term pregnancies and to establish the relationship between these parameters and subsequent intrapartum outcome. Method: 211 women with uncomplicated, term, singleton pregnancies were recruited to this prospective observational study prior to active labor at Dokuz Eylul University Medical Faculty Hospital . All participants underwent an ultrasound examination, during which fetal biometry, umbilical venous flow velocity, and umbilical vein diameter were recorded. Umbilical venous flow rate was then calculated. Following delivery, intrapartum and neonatal outcomes were correlated with the ultrasound findings. Results: Our study was completed by 211 patients with pregnancy outcomes. When compared to cases who need neonatal intensive care unit , cases who don't need intensive care unıt don't have istatistically different doppler parameters. The umbilical artery pi value is significantly higher in the group that developed fetal distress . We found that other doppler parameters have no importance in predicting fetal distress. We also found that , umblical vein flow has no significance in predicting adverse fetal outcome and intrapartum fetal distress. Conclusion: Evaluation of doppler parameters of umbilical artery, uterine artery, the middle cerebral artery and umblical vein flow before the active phase of labor is not useful for predicting intrapartum fetal distress or adverse neonatal outcomes . Keywords: fetal distress , umblical vein flow , fetal doppler , delivery