ABSTRACT
This study was designed to show how accurately the pulsed Doppler fetal blood flow velocimetry reflects fetal blood gas values. Abnormal Doppler umbilical artery (UA) velocimetry was defined when the value deviated from the 95% confidence interval of the normal fetuses. Fetal acidemia, hypoxemia, or hypercapnia was defined when the fetal blood gas taken by funipuncture during pregnancy deviated from the 95% confidence interval of the standard. Positive predictive values of abnormal UA Doppler with acidemia, hypoxemia, and hypercapnia were 26.3, 29.2, and 25.4%, respectively. When an absence or reversal of diastolic flow was observed, positive predictive values of absence or reversal of UA Doppler were 71.4 for acidemia, 71.4 for hypercapnia, and 71.4 for hypoxemia. In conclusion, although it is difficult to presume the fetal blood gas profile by Doppler velocimetry alone, we have to recognize the deterioration of the fetal blood gas profile when we observe the absence or reversal in diastolic flow in the UA.
Keywords
Blood gas - Doppler flow - umbilical artery
