title: Post-term pregnancies with normal cardiotocographs and amniotic fluid columns: the role of Doppler evaluation in predicting perinatal outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the role of Doppler ultrasound examination in predicting an abnormal perinatal outcome, among post-term pregnancies uncomplicated by an abnormal non-stress test (NST) or reduced amount of amniotic fluid.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  High-risk pregnancy unit, Hadassah Mt. Scopus University Hospital, Jerusalem.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-eight women with confirmed gestational age of > 287 days, who had normal initial evaluation and unfavourable cervical examination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Doppler flow velocity waveforms were recorded from the umbilical and middle cerebral arteries, and from the descending thoracic aorta.
  
  
  METHODS
  Correlation between Doppler measurements and data regarding delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women who developed signs of fetal distress during labour, or who required intervention because of fetal distress, had elevated umbilical artery systolic/diastolic ratio, decreased middle cerebral artery pulsatility index, and decreased time average aortic blood flow velocity. Umbilical artery Doppler measurements could significantly predict the need for intervention due to fetal distress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Doppler examination of uncomplicated post-term pregnancies may identify patients with normal results as having a low risk of developing fetal distress during labour. Patients with abnormal Doppler results are prone to need intervention following fetal distress in labour.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: E Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Anteby
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tadmor
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Revel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yagel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005333:Fetus / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011273:Pregnancy, Prolonged / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D014465:Ultrasonics; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology