title: Doppler velocimetry versus nonstress test in the antepartum monitoring of low-risk pregnancies.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Università Cattolica S. Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arduini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soliani
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romanini
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001724:Birth Weight; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply*