Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 10, Issue 6 331-335, Copyright © 1991 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Doppler velocimetry versus nonstress test in the antepartum monitoring of low-risk pregnancies
D. Arduini, G. Rizzo, A. Soliani and C. Romanini
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universita Cattolica S. Cuore, Rome, Italy.
One thousand singleton low-risk pregnancies were cross-sectionally studied
at 36-40 weeks gestation with continuous-wave Doppler ultrasonography in
order to assess its usefulness as an antepartum monitoring technique for
the identification of fetuses at risk of developing an adverse outcome.
Uterine artery and umbilical artery S/D values were measured and related to
fetal outcome. Results were compared with those of the nonstress test. No
significant differences in fetal outcome, with the exception of birth
weight, were found between patients with normal and abnormal uterine S/D
values. In pregnancies with abnormal umbilical S/D values, a higher
incidence of cesarean section for fetal distress and lower birth weight
were observed. Moreover, those newborns more frequently had complications
such as low 5-minute Apgar score, requiring resuscitation and admission to
the intensive care unit. When compared to nonstress test, umbilical
velocimetry showed a higher efficiency in identifying fetuses at risk for
adverse outcome.
