Abstract:

AIM: To evaluate the perinatal outcome of high risk pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction with reverse fl ow or absence of end-diastolic fl ow velocity in umbilical artery Doppler fl owmetry. METHODS: Pregnant women (n=44) with gestations of ≥30 weeks were included. They all had intrauterine growth restriction and/ or preeclampsia. Doppler fl owmetry including reverse fl ow or absence of end-diastolic fl ow velocity were used to predict the perinatal outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson Chi-Square and Fisher’s Exact tests. RESULTS: The mean gestational age according to the last menstrual date and ultrasound evaluation were 34.4 and 29 weeks, respectively. The mean duration of neonatal intensive care unit requirement time was 8.1 days and the mean birth weight was 1604 gram.Preeclampsia and oligohydramnios were seen in 26 and 24 of the fetuses, respectively. There were 9 neonatal and 1 intrauterine fetal deaths. Reverse fl ow or absence of end diastolic fl ow velocity was detected in 13 patients (29.5%). These fetuses had signifi cantly lower 5th minute Apgar’s score and gestational age at labor. Similarly, the duration of neonatal intensive care requirement and the perinatal death rate were signifi cantly higher. CONCLUSION: Reverse fl ow or absence of end-diastolic fl ow velocity in fetal umbilical artery Doppler fl owmetry is a useful parameter in predicting poor perinatal outcome of high risk pregnancies

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