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Fetal cerebral blood flow velocity during labor and the early neonatal period

Maesel, A ; Sladkevicius, Povilas LU orcid ; Valentin, Lil LU orcid and Marsal, Karel LU (1994) In Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology 4(5). p.372-376
Abstract
This study was performed to elucidate circulatory changes in the fetal cerebral circulation during uncomplicated labor and in early neonatal life. Eighteen healthy term singleton fetuses were followed longitudinally during labor. Using the transabdominal approach, and the color Doppler technique, the middle cerebral artery was identified and Doppler flow velocity waveforms recorded between and during uterine contractions. Neonatal recordings were made by insonating the middle cerebral artery from the temporal region before and immediately after the cutting of the umbilical cord, and at 1 hour and 1 day after birth. The recorded Doppler signals were evaluated for pulsatility index, heart rate, peak systolic flow velocity, end-diastolic flow... (More)
This study was performed to elucidate circulatory changes in the fetal cerebral circulation during uncomplicated labor and in early neonatal life. Eighteen healthy term singleton fetuses were followed longitudinally during labor. Using the transabdominal approach, and the color Doppler technique, the middle cerebral artery was identified and Doppler flow velocity waveforms recorded between and during uterine contractions. Neonatal recordings were made by insonating the middle cerebral artery from the temporal region before and immediately after the cutting of the umbilical cord, and at 1 hour and 1 day after birth. The recorded Doppler signals were evaluated for pulsatility index, heart rate, peak systolic flow velocity, end-diastolic flow velocity and time-averaged maximum velocity. There was no change in the pulsatility index between and during contractions (1.39 +/- 0.36 and 1.40 +/- 0.39, respectively, mean +/- SD). A significant decrease in the pulsatility index compared to fetal values was seen 4 min after birth (1.06 +/- 0.30, p < 0.01). One hour after birth, the pulsatility index values increased significantly (1.52 +/- 0.25, p < 0.001), to fall again between I hour and 1 day after birth (0.95 +/- 0.26, p < 0.001). Mechanical compression of the skull, blood gas changes and a decrease in ductal shunting may all have contributed to these changes. The present study has shown physiological neonatal circulatory adaptation and onset of breathing to cause manifest changes in cerebral blood flow velocity. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
fetus, central nervous system, blood flow, Doppler ultrasound, labor, neonate
in
Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology
volume
4
issue
5
pages
372 - 376
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • scopus:84989065221
ISSN
1469-0705
DOI
10.1046/j.1469-0705.1994.04050372.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f5db18b9-6d61-427c-a581-6f9789a28d27 (old id 1108392)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:31:15
date last changed
2021-01-03 05:21:37
@article{f5db18b9-6d61-427c-a581-6f9789a28d27,
  abstract     = {{This study was performed to elucidate circulatory changes in the fetal cerebral circulation during uncomplicated labor and in early neonatal life. Eighteen healthy term singleton fetuses were followed longitudinally during labor. Using the transabdominal approach, and the color Doppler technique, the middle cerebral artery was identified and Doppler flow velocity waveforms recorded between and during uterine contractions. Neonatal recordings were made by insonating the middle cerebral artery from the temporal region before and immediately after the cutting of the umbilical cord, and at 1 hour and 1 day after birth. The recorded Doppler signals were evaluated for pulsatility index, heart rate, peak systolic flow velocity, end-diastolic flow velocity and time-averaged maximum velocity. There was no change in the pulsatility index between and during contractions (1.39 +/- 0.36 and 1.40 +/- 0.39, respectively, mean +/- SD). A significant decrease in the pulsatility index compared to fetal values was seen 4 min after birth (1.06 +/- 0.30, p &lt; 0.01). One hour after birth, the pulsatility index values increased significantly (1.52 +/- 0.25, p &lt; 0.001), to fall again between I hour and 1 day after birth (0.95 +/- 0.26, p &lt; 0.001). Mechanical compression of the skull, blood gas changes and a decrease in ductal shunting may all have contributed to these changes. The present study has shown physiological neonatal circulatory adaptation and onset of breathing to cause manifest changes in cerebral blood flow velocity.}},
  author       = {{Maesel, A and Sladkevicius, Povilas and Valentin, Lil and Marsal, Karel}},
  issn         = {{1469-0705}},
  keywords     = {{fetus; central nervous system; blood flow; Doppler ultrasound; labor; neonate}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{372--376}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology}},
  title        = {{Fetal cerebral blood flow velocity during labor and the early neonatal period}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1469-0705.1994.04050372.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1046/j.1469-0705.1994.04050372.x}},
  volume       = {{4}},
  year         = {{1994}},
}