Sonographic fetal measurements and umbilical artery doppler velocity for the prediction of gestational age and fetal outcome

ABSTRACT

Serially performed real time and color Doppler duplex sonographic fetal measurements were conducted on 100 uncomplicated pregnant Egyptian women attending in the antenatal outpatient clinic in EL-Zahraa University Hospital. This current prospective longitudinal study was designed to define the confidence limits and characteristics of growth for different fetal biometric measurements e.g.; biparietal diameter [BPD], binocular diameter, cerebellar measurements, femur length, humerus length, cardiac circumference, pulmonary artery and aortic artery diameters. Also flow velocity waveforms and the ratio of peak systolic to end diastolic [S/D] blood flow velocities in the umbilical artery with Doppler ultrasound in relation to the gestational age was measured in an attempt to predict fetal age, well being, and outcome. These variables were studied longitudinally from 20 to 40 weeks gestation and were found to be significantly increased with advanced gestational age with a decreasing non-variable, non-fluctuating S/D ratio of the umbilical artery. Also, these parameters were found to be highly correlated with each other and with gestational age, and from simple linear regression of.these variables an equation was deduced to calculate the expected GA per weeks if only one parameter is available. Furthermore, the normative data established in the present study may be helpful in the prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart, skeletal defects among their discordant circumference and diameters of the great vessels and long bones. Also, the analysis of the S/D ratio and RI for the umbilical artery may be of a benefit in the antenatal care to ensure fetal well-being and outcome: