[The value of velocimetric investigation of the uterine arteries in retro-placental hematoma. 3 cases]. / Intérêt de l'étude vélocimétrique des artères utérines dans l'hématome rétro-placentaire. A propos de 3 observations.

ABSTRACT

Retro-placental hematoma is a sudden event with a serious prognosis which is aggravated by the very frequent absence of premonitory clinical, biological or ultrasonic signs. Does a velocimetric investigation of the uterine arteries have any predictive value in this disorder? The apparatus used was a continuous Doppler with spectral analysis and a 4 MHz probe no ultrasonic location. Each examination involved the exploration of 2 uterine arteries and of the umbilical flow. The method of recording the uterine arteries is described. Three cases of retro-placental hematoma are reported. In these three cases, an increase in the resistance index of one of the uterine arteries (the right artery in 2 cases and the left in 1 case) was detected with the presence of a protodiastolic notch on the trace, whereas the umbilical index itself was normal and no other sign was present which could predict the placental event. The value of the Doppler recording is already established in many obstetric indications, and these should be extended yet further, particularly if this preliminary study is confirmed on a larger scale.