title: The value of umbilical artery Doppler analysis in the prediction of fetal acidosis in labour.
abstract: Doppler waveform analysis of the umbilical artery was performed on 42 patients with decelerations of the fetal heart rate during the first stage of labour. A fetal scalp blood sample was analysed or caesarean section was performed. At delivery the umbilical vein pH was estimated. A significant negative correlation between the umbilical vein pH and the pulsatility index of the Doppler waveform was found (r = -0.59). There was not a significant correlation between the pulsatility index and the scalp pH measurement. The use of Doppler waveform analysis in labour is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Puzey
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lindow
mesh_terms: D000138:Acidosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000502:physiology*; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*