Evaluation of the selected parameters of the fetal diastolic functions in normally grown or macrosomic fetuses of gestational diabetic mothers with poor glycaemic control

Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether the third trimester fetal cardiac diastolic function measured by selected conventional Doppler indices is affected in appropriate-for-gestational-age or macrosomic fetuses of gestational diabetic mothers with poor glycaemic control. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 93 pregnant women divided into two groups. Group 1 included 45 appropriate-for-gestational-age or macrosomic fetuses from gestational diabetic mothers with poor glycaemic control (study group). Group 2 included 48 appropriate-for-gestational-age fetuses from gestational age-matched healthy mothers (control group). Functional fetal cardiac parameters and fetoplacental Doppler parameters were measured. Data were compared between the two groups. Results: Maternal characteristics did not differ significantly between the study and the control group. There were no significant differences in the early and late velocity, early/late velocity ratio of both mitral and tricuspid valves, the fetal pulmonary vein pulsatility index, and the ductus venosus pulsatility index between the study and the control group. Moreover, the rate of abnormal Doppler findings in pulmonary vein (pulmonary vein pulsatility index >95th centile), ductus venosus (ductus venosus pulsatility index >95th centile), and peripheral vessels (umbilical artery pulsatility index >95th centile, middle cerebral artery pulsatility index <5th centile, cerebra-placental index >95th centile) were comparable in both groups. Conclusions: The third trimester fetal diastolic functions measured by selected conventional Doppler techniques do not seem to be altered in appropriate-for-gestational-age or macrosomic fetuses of gestational diabetic mothers who have poor glycaemic control.

The Role of The Doppler Study (Umbilical, Middle, Cerebral Arteries and Ductus Venosus) to Predict General Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Patients With Hypertensive Diseases in The Third Trimester

Background: The hypertensive pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia show an increase in maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality.Color Doppler ultrasound has been employed for fetal surveillance. Objective: To evaluate the role of Doppler study in the prediction of adverse pregnancy outcomes in hypertensive pregnant women at the third trimester of pregnancy. Patients and Methods: A clinical prospective follow up study conducted in Outpatient Ultrasound Clinic at Al-Imamein Kadhimein Medical City, Baghdad, Iraq from 1st July, 2018 till 31st of July 2019 included 50 pregnant women with hypertensive disorder of pregnancy at the third trimester. The fetal and neonatal outcome was reported poor when intrauterine fetal death occurs during follow-up of pregnant women or more than two of the reported neonatal complications were poor. Results: Means of the middle cerebral artery and umbilical artery-resistance and pulasatility indices ratio were significantly decreased among pregnant women with poor neonatal outcomes. Similarly, the umbilical artery end-diastolic flow and Ductus Venousu waveforms were Conclusion: The middle cerebral artery and umbilical artery indices of pregnant women with hypertensive disorders are good predictors for neonatal outcomes. Keywords: Hypertensive disorder, Middle cerebral artery, Umbilical artery, Ductus venosus

Diagnostic value of systematic ultrasonography for trisomy 18 syndrome in fetuses before 16 weeks gestation

Purpose To explore the diagnostic value of systematic fetal ultrasonography for trisomy 18 (T18) syndrome before 16 weeks gestation. Methods A total of 12 fetuses with T18 were selected as research subjects and their nuchal translucency (NT) screening and fetal systematic ultrasonographic images acquired at 11–15 weeks were retrospectively analyzed. Results In the 12 fetuses’ NT screening, ten fetuses showed NT thickening, one showed nuchal cystic hygroma, four showed reversed a-wave ductus venosus flow, and three showed omphalocele. The most common anomalies on the systematic ultrasonography before 16 weeks gestation were cardiac defects (12/12, 100%), omphalocele (4/12, 33.3%), limb anomalies (5/12, 41.7%), and facial anomalies (3/12, 25.0%). Seven of the 12 fetuses had multiple structural malformations: three had two structural malformations (25.0%), three had three structural malformations (25.0%), and one had four structural malformations (8.3%). Conclusion Systematic fetal ultrasonography before 16 weeks gestation can detect most of the structural malformations of T18, effectively shortening the prenatal diagnosis time. It is therefore of great importance for reducing the birth rate of children with T18 and minimizing the physical and mental damage to mothers and their families.

The Clinical and Imaging Findings of Patent Ductus Venosus in Children: A Series of Nine Cases

Purpose: To retrospectively analyze the clinical and imaging findings of patent ductus venosus (PDV) ,so as to improve the diagnostic accuracy of the disease and reduce missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis. Methods Medical records of 9 patients with PDV were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical, and laboratory test data were extracted from the electronic medical records. Two radiologists and one sonographer reviewed all imaging examinations retrospectively. Results 9 patients with PDV were reviewed, including 7 males and 2 females, aged from 16 days to 16.5 years. The initial clinical presentations of PDV were varied, but jaundice and respiratory symptoms were the most common. Laboratory tests showed that 5/9 cases had hypoxemia, 2/9 had hyperammonemia, 7/9 had hyperbilirubinemia, 6/9 had abnormal coagulation function, 4/9 had abnormal myocardial enzymes, 8/9 had hepatic dysfunction, and 3/9 had renal dysfunction. The direct imaging sign of PDV was a vascular structure connecting the left branch of portal vein(LPV) to the inferior vena cava(IVC), running in the depth of the Arantius sulcus. The secondary imaging findings were as follows: All the patients had enlarged liver. 3 patients presented with hypoperfusion in right lobe of liver. The spleen was enlarged in 8 cases but shrank in one. Dilated LPV and atrophic right branch of portal vein (RPV) were observed in all patients. The main portal vein (MPV) was dilated in 8 cases and shrank in one. Dilated right heart and pulmonary artery were observed in all cases. Abnormal renal imaging was observed in 2 patients. The complications and coexistent malformations were as follows: Brain MRI indicated hepatic encephalopathy in 4 cases. 7/9 patients were combined with other malformations, and the most common coexistent malformations were congenital heart disease (CHD) and vascular abnormalities, with 5 and 6 cases respectively. Conclusions PDV can lead to multi-system lesions. The clinical presentations and laboratory findings were diverse. The diagnosis of PDV depends on imaging examinations, and it is important to evaluate the secondary imaging changes. Complications and coexistent malformations were common, and we need to prevent omissions during the imaging evaluations.

Reference values for Ductus Venosus pulsatility index between 11 and 13 + 6 weeks of Gestation: A Single-center Observational Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital

BackgroundThe ductus venosus pulsatility index(DVPI) has been evolved as an important marker of the first trimester screening sonography. The aim of this study is to define a reference for ductus venosus pulsatility index at 11–13 +6 weeks of gestation.MethodsIn this cross sectional observational study, 415 women with singleton pregnancies and crown lump length(CRL) between 45 and 84 mm were included. Exclusion criteria were abnormal biochemical screening results, presence of fetal structural malformation or chromosomal abnormalities such as thickened nuchal fold, abnormal perinatal outcomes, and newborns with a chromosomal abnormality. Transabdominal U/S was performed in all participants by an expert radiologist in obstetric sonography. CRL, nuchal translucency(NT), and blood flow indices of ductus venosus (DV) in each fetus were measured. The collected data were analyzed by IBM SPSS software version 20. Linear regression was performed to demonstrate the association between CRL DVPI. Further, 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles of DV blood flow indices were calculated for each gestational age.ResultThe mean value of DVPI ranged from 1.05 at CRL 42mm to 1.3 at CRL 82mm. DVPI and CRL did not show any significant linear association (Regression coefficient B=0.001, R2=0.003, P=0.31)Conclusion: We defined means and ranges of DVPI, while determining the 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles of DVPI for each CRL at our institution which were approximately similar to previous studies.

Prognostic accuracy of antenatal Doppler ultrasound for adverse perinatal outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review

ObjectivesThis systematic review examined available literature on the prognostic accuracy of Doppler ultrasound for adverse perinatal outcomes in low/middle-income countries (LMIC).DesignWe searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Scopus from inception to April 2020.SettingObservational or interventional studies from LMICs.ParticipantsSingleton pregnancies of any risk profile.InterventionsUmbilical artery (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), cerebroplacental ratio (CPR), uterine artery (UtA), fetal descending aorta (FDA), ductus venosus, umbilical vein and inferior vena cava.Primary and secondary outcome measuresPerinatal death, stillbirth, neonatal death, expedited delivery for fetal distress, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, low birth weight, fetal growth restriction, admission to neonatal intensive care unit, neonatal acidosis, Apgar scores, preterm birth, fetal anaemia, respiratory distress syndrome, length of hospital stay, birth asphyxia and composite adverse perinatal outcomes (CAPO).ResultsWe identified 2825 records, and 30 (including 4977 women) from Africa (40.0%, n=12), Asia (56.7%, n=17) and South America (3.3%, n=01) were included. Many individual studies reported associations and promising predictive values of UA Doppler for various adverse perinatal outcomes mostly in high-risk pregnancies, and moderate to high predictive values of MCA, CPR and UtA Dopplers for CAPO. A few studies suggested that the MCA and FDA may be potent predictors of fetal anaemia. No randomised clinical trial (RCT) was found. Most studies were of suboptimal quality, poorly powered and characterised by wide variations in outcome classifications, the timing for the Doppler tests and study populations.ConclusionLocal evidence to guide how antenatal Doppler ultrasound should be used in LMIC is lacking. Well-designed studies, preferably RCTs, are required. Standardisation of practice and classification of perinatal outcomes across countries, following the international standards, is imperative.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42019128546

Reference values for fetal Doppler-based cardiocirculatory indices in monochorionic-diamniotic twin pregnancy

Background Placental anastomoses in monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twin pregnancy have a major impact on fetal circulation. This study was designed to define reference ranges of cardiac and vascular Doppler indices in MCDA twin pregnancies. Methods This cross-sectional study included 442 uncomplicated MCDA twin fetuses undergoing Doppler ultrasonography at 18–35 weeks of gestation. Left and right myocardial performance index (LV-MPI, RV-MPI), E/A ratio of atrioventricular valves, pulsatility indices of umbilical artery, middle cerebral artery (MCA), and ductus venosus (DV), cerebroplacental ratio, peak systolic velocity of MCA, S/a ratio of DV, and early diastolic filling time of ductus venosus (DV-E) were evaluated under standardized settings. The equation models between Doppler indices and gestational age (GA) were fitted. After adjustment for GA, the correlations between MPI and fetal heart rate (FHR), and between MPI and DV indices were analyzed. Results Estimated centiles of Doppler indices were derived as a function of GA, being distinct in values from those of singletons. There was no correlation between GA-adjusted MPI and FHR. DV-E was inversely related to LV-MPI. Conclusions MCDA twins showed significant changes in some Doppler indices throughout gestation with quantitative differences from singletons, emphasizing the importance of MC twin-specific reference values for clinical application. Further adjustment of MPI for FHR was unnecessary. DV-E is a vascular index indirectly representing fetal diastolic function.

Risk Assessment of the Increased Occurrence of Congenital Cardiac and Non-Cardiac Defects in Fetuses with a Normal Karyotype after Assisted Fertilization in Comparison to Natural Fertilization Based on Ultrasound Diagnostics

The goal of the study was to assess changes in parameters based on ultrasound examinations—these were Crown Rump Length (CRL), Nuchal Translucency (NT), Fetal Heart Rate (FHR), and Pulsatility Index for Ductus Venosus (DV-PI)—in the first trimester of pregnancy in women in which there was a natural initiation of the pregnancy due to spontaneous ovulation, women in which the pregnancy was initiated as a result of stimulated ovulation, as well as in the group in which pregnancy was achieved through the use of In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF)-assisted reproduction. A total of 1581 women became pregnant without the use of assisted reproduction methods. Out of 283 pregnancies, in 178 patients, induced ovulation was utilized. Next, 137 women had sexual intercourse and became pregnant; 41 of them became pregnant through Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) as a result of Artificial Insemination by Husband (AIH), and 13 became pregnant after Artificial Insemination by Donor (AID). The third group consisted of 105 women subjected to Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation (COH). In this group of pregnant women, 53 pregnancies were resultant of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), and 52 pregnancies were the result of Intracytoplasmic Morphologically selected Sperm Injection (IMSI). The obtained results did not indicate that the chosen method of fertilization or the chosen ovulation method had a statistically significant effect on the development risk of congenital heart or non-heart defects in the fetus.