Characteristics of blood flow in intrauterine growth-restricted fetuses with hypercoiled cord.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify the characteristics of fetoplacental blood flow of growth-restricted fetuses with hypercoiled umbilical cord.


METHODS
Eight growth-restricted fetuses with hypercoiled cord.


METHODS
Flow velocity waveforms of the umbilical cord artery and vein, fetal abdominal aorta and fetal inferior vena cava were analyzed.


RESULTS
The resistance index in the umbilical artery in the hypercoiled cases was lower than that in normal fetuses. Early-diastolic reversed flow was observed in the abdominal aorta in some cases. In all cases, umbilical venous pulsation was observed in the entire cord until delivery. In one case, fetal heart failure occurred, resulting in pre-mature delivery. An atrophic type of single umbilical artery was observed in four cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Fetal blood flow disturbance caused by a hypercoiled umbilical cord may be a cause of growth restriction.
Nishio
J
J
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Japan.
Nakai
Y
Y
Mine
M
M
Imanaka
M
M
Ogita
S
S
D000328:Adult; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology; D001284:Atrophy; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D003971:Diastole; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D005333:Fetus / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011247:Pregnancy; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology