title: Assessment of uterine artery and aortic isthmus Doppler recordings as predictors of necrotizing enterocolitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether changes of uterine arteries and aortic isthmus Doppler blood flow recordings could enhance the prediction of necrotizing enterocolitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Doppler characteristics of the uterine artery, umbilical and middle cerebral arteries, ductus venosus, and aortic isthmus were reviewed in 123 growth-restricted fetuses who were then divided into 2 groups: with and without necrotizing enterocolitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve of 123 newborn infants (9%) expressed necrotizing enterocolitis. This group showed significant association between necrotizing enterocolitis and bilateral notching on the uterine artery (83.3% vs 29.7%; P < .001), uterine artery mean resistance index (83.3% vs 36.9%; P < .002), aortic isthmus diastolic blood flow velocity integrals (Z score: -7.32 vs -3.99; P = .028), and absent or negative "a" wave on the ductus venosus (17% vs 1.8%; P = .021). With the use of logistic regression, uterine bilateral notching could predict necrotizing enterocolitis with a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 70.3%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More than any other variable, uterine bilateral notching should be recognized as a strong risk factor for necrotizing enterocolitis.
authors.affiliation: Fetal Cardiology Unit, Pediatric Cardiology Service, Department of Pediatrics, Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Marie-Josée
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Raboisson
authors.forename: Cyril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huissoud
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lapointe
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hugues
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bigras
authors.forename: Myriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brassard
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lamoureux
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Fouron
mesh_terms: D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055988:Uterine Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*