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Pulsations in the umbilical vein during labor are associated with increased risk of operative delivery for fetal distress.

Ghosh, Gisela LU ; Fu, Jing LU ; Olofsson, Per LU and Gudmundsson, Saemundur LU (2009) In Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology 34(2). p.177-181
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Under physiological conditions the blood flow velocity waveform in the umbilical vein (UV) has an even non-pulsating pattern. Pulsations in the UV have been described in human fetuses exposed to chronic hypoxia and heart failure. Current techniques for fetal surveillance during labor and delivery involve a risk of both over- and underestimation of fetal hypoxia. We aimed to examine whether pulsations in the UV appear in the human fetus during suspected intrapartum hypoxia, and if so whether they are associated with increased risk of operative delivery for fetal distress (ODFD). METHODS: This was a prospective double blind study including 52 normal pregnancies. A Doppler examination of the UV was performed on 26 fetuses with... (More)
OBJECTIVES: Under physiological conditions the blood flow velocity waveform in the umbilical vein (UV) has an even non-pulsating pattern. Pulsations in the UV have been described in human fetuses exposed to chronic hypoxia and heart failure. Current techniques for fetal surveillance during labor and delivery involve a risk of both over- and underestimation of fetal hypoxia. We aimed to examine whether pulsations in the UV appear in the human fetus during suspected intrapartum hypoxia, and if so whether they are associated with increased risk of operative delivery for fetal distress (ODFD). METHODS: This was a prospective double blind study including 52 normal pregnancies. A Doppler examination of the UV was performed on 26 fetuses with pathological and 26 fetuses with normal cardiotocography (CTG) during labor. Presence or absence of pulsations in the UV were noted and related to perinatal outcome. RESULTS: Pulsations in the UV were seen in eight (30.8%) of the fetuses with pathological CTG, of which six (75%) underwent ODFD. No pulsations were seen in the other 18 (69.2%) fetuses with pathological CTG and these were all delivered without ODFD. No pulsations were seen in the UV in the fetuses with normal CTG and these were all delivered without ODFD. Among the fetuses with pathological CTG, there was an increased risk of ODFD in fetuses with vs. those without pulsations in the UV (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Pulsations in the UV can be observed in human fetuses during suspected intrapartum hypoxia and these pulsations are associated with an increased risk of ODFD. Doppler examination of the UV might give important additional information on fetal condition during labor and delivery. Copyright (c) 2009 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
volume
34
issue
2
pages
177 - 181
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • wos:000269102900010
  • pmid:19588466
  • scopus:68149155887
  • pmid:19588466
ISSN
1469-0705
DOI
10.1002/uog.6420
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Pediatrics/Urology/Gynecology/Endocrinology (013240400), Research Unit for Urogynaecology and Reproductive Pharmacology (013242710)
id
3aea032a-6113-4a04-8140-513baafcc318 (old id 1453235)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19588466?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 09:25:58
date last changed
2022-01-29 17:49:20
@article{3aea032a-6113-4a04-8140-513baafcc318,
  abstract     = {{OBJECTIVES: Under physiological conditions the blood flow velocity waveform in the umbilical vein (UV) has an even non-pulsating pattern. Pulsations in the UV have been described in human fetuses exposed to chronic hypoxia and heart failure. Current techniques for fetal surveillance during labor and delivery involve a risk of both over- and underestimation of fetal hypoxia. We aimed to examine whether pulsations in the UV appear in the human fetus during suspected intrapartum hypoxia, and if so whether they are associated with increased risk of operative delivery for fetal distress (ODFD). METHODS: This was a prospective double blind study including 52 normal pregnancies. A Doppler examination of the UV was performed on 26 fetuses with pathological and 26 fetuses with normal cardiotocography (CTG) during labor. Presence or absence of pulsations in the UV were noted and related to perinatal outcome. RESULTS: Pulsations in the UV were seen in eight (30.8%) of the fetuses with pathological CTG, of which six (75%) underwent ODFD. No pulsations were seen in the other 18 (69.2%) fetuses with pathological CTG and these were all delivered without ODFD. No pulsations were seen in the UV in the fetuses with normal CTG and these were all delivered without ODFD. Among the fetuses with pathological CTG, there was an increased risk of ODFD in fetuses with vs. those without pulsations in the UV (P &lt; 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Pulsations in the UV can be observed in human fetuses during suspected intrapartum hypoxia and these pulsations are associated with an increased risk of ODFD. Doppler examination of the UV might give important additional information on fetal condition during labor and delivery. Copyright (c) 2009 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.}},
  author       = {{Ghosh, Gisela and Fu, Jing and Olofsson, Per and Gudmundsson, Saemundur}},
  issn         = {{1469-0705}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{177--181}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology}},
  title        = {{Pulsations in the umbilical vein during labor are associated with increased risk of operative delivery for fetal distress.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/uog.6420}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/uog.6420}},
  volume       = {{34}},
  year         = {{2009}},
}