This study was designed to investigate a possible role for Doppler velocimetry as a predictor of uteroplacental insufficienty with fetal heart rate(FHR) tracing. From January 1994 to through May 1996, we studied 419 high risk pregnant women who
underwent Doppler veloicimetry within 1 week of intrapartum cardiotocogram or contraction stress test(CST) after 30 gestational weeks. The presence of a diastolic notch in uterine artery, elevated systolic/diastolic(S/D) ratios in umbilical
artery(more
tan 3.0), or in uterine artery(more than 2.6) were considered abnormal. All of the 419 subjects were performed intrapartum cardiotocogram or CST within 1 week after Doppler velocimetry. Seventeen cases were associated with persistent late
deceleration
or positive CST. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and relative risk of umbilical artery S/D ratio for predicting abnormal FHR tracing were 23.5%(4/17), 893%(359/402), k8.5%(4/47), 96.5%(359/372),
and
0.97. Those of uterine artery S/D ration and diastolic notch were 29.4%(5//17), 92.5%(372/402), 14.3%(5/35), 96.9%(372/384), 1.35 and 35.3%(6/17), 90.3%(363/402), 13.3%(6/45), 97.6%(363/374), 3.88 respectively. The presence of uterine artery
diastolic
notch in Doppler velocimetry seems to be a better predictor for abnormal FHR tracing after 30 weeks gestation than are S/D ratios in umbilical or uterine arteries.
In conclusion, we can suggest that the presence of diastolic notch in uterine artery Doppler velocimetry might be useful to predict the uteroplacental insufficiency after 30 gestational weeks.
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