Absence of end-diastolic umbilical artery blood flow predicts poor fetal outcome despite normal blood gases.
A case is reported in which the fetal acid-base status was assessed by means of cordocentesis in a fetus without end-diastolic umbilical artery blood flow. The absence of end-diastolic flow was not associated with acidosis or hypoxia. However, the fetal condition deteriorated 3 days later, which suggests that even with a normal fetal acid-base status, an extended margin of safety cannot be assumed with the absence of end-diastolic umbilical flow.
Warren
W
W
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Ronkin
S
S
Chayen
B
B
Needleman
L
L
Wapner
R J
RJ
D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D003971:Diastole; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology