Is there a benefit of antenatal corticosteroid when given < 48 h before delivery?

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the association between a short antenatal corticosteroid administration-to-birth interval and neonatal outcome. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study was conducted between 2010 and 2020. Eligible cases were singleton preterm live-born neonates born between 24-0/7 and 33-6/7 weeks of gestation and were initiated an ACS course of betamethasone. We divided the first 48 h following the first ACS administration to four time intervals and compared each time interval to those born more than 48 h following ACS administration. The primary outcome was a composite of adverse neonatal outcome, including neonatal mortality or any major neonatal morbidity. RESULTS: A total of 200 women gave birth less than 48 h from receiving the first betamethasone injection, and 172 women gave birth within 2-7 days (48-168 h) from ACS administration. Composite adverse neonatal outcome was higher for neonates born less than 12 h from initial ACS administration compared to neonates born 2-7 days from the first betamethasone injection (55.45% vs. 29.07%, OR 3.45 95% CI [2.02-5.89], p value < 0.0001). However, there was no difference in composite adverse neonatal outcomes between neonates born 12-48 h following ACS administration and those born after 2-7 days. That was also true after adjusting for confounders. CONCLUSIONS: 12-24 h following ACS administration may be sufficient in reducing the same risk of neonatal morbidities as > 48 h following ACS administration. It may raise the question regarding the utility of the second dose of ACS.

Long-term follow-up of sacrocolpopexy mesh implants at two time intervals at least 1 year apart using 4D transperineal ultrasound.

OBJECTIVE: To determine, using four-dimensional (4D) transperineal ultrasound, whether the appearance, position or dimensions of sacrocolpopexy mesh implants or the degree of tissue support change in the long term. METHODS: Women who had undergone minimally invasive abdominal sacrocolpopexy for pelvic organ prolapse were invited for follow-up assessment at two consecutive visits at least 1 year apart. All participants completed a Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory questionnaire (PFDI-20) and underwent a pelvic examination by one examiner and had 4D ultrasound volumes obtained by a different examiner. Volumes were analyzed offline for mesh position with the woman at rest and on maximal Valsalva maneuver, and for mesh dimensions and characteristics on three-dimensional orthogonal planes and rendered views, with the operator blinded to the clinical data. Findings were compared between the two examinations. RESULTS: Thirty women attended follow-up assessment at two time points, a median of 22 (range, 12-37) months apart. The median age at the latter visit was 60 (range, 46-72) years, median body mass index was 25.9 (range, 20.8-31.9) kg/m2 , median parity was 3 (range, 1-7) and median time from surgery to first and second visit, respectively, was 11.2 (range, 6-26) months and 33.5 (range, 14-56) months. There were no significant differences between the two time points in symptom scores, reported satisfaction from surgery, pelvic examination findings or pelvic organ descent in any compartment according to ultrasound. While mesh dimensions of anterior and posterior arms did not change significantly over time, both arms descended less on Valsalva at the second follow-up compared with at the first (13.2 ± 6.7 mm vs 21.9 ± 10.0 mm and 9.1 ± 5.3 mm vs 16.1 ± 8.1 mm, respectively, both P < 0.001). There were no mesh erosions, but folding remained a consistent finding, occurring in 80% of women in each assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Characteristics of tissue support and dimensions of sacrocolpopexy mesh implants remained constant over long-term follow-up, with no mesh shrinkage or erosion. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Three-dimensional transperineal ultrasound for imaging mesh implants following sacrocolpopexy.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize, using three-dimensional (3D) transperineal ultrasound, the appearance, position and dimensions of mesh implants following minimally invasive abdominal sacrocolpopexy. METHODS: In women who underwent sacrocolpopexy, mesh was evaluated at rest and on maximal Valsalva, on all 3D orthogonal planes and rendered views. Mesh dimensions were obtained by 3D processing in the midsagittal and coronal planes (anterior, posterior and sacral arm) and were analyzed offline, the operator blinded to clinical data. RESULTS: Overall, 62 women, mean age 58.4 (range, 42-79) years were evaluated at a median of 9 (range, 1-26) months following surgery. The anterior arm of the mesh was caudal to the lowermost point of descent of the anterior compartment in 56 (90.3%) women, was equally positioned in five (8.1%) and was cranial in one. The posterior arm was caudal in 44 (71%) women, was equally positioned in 16 (25.8%) and was cranial in two (3.2%). The Y connection and the sacral arm of the mesh could not be adequately seen because of physical limitations of ultrasound (lower resolution at greater depth), large recurrent rectoceles, echogenic stools or folding of mesh remnants. Folding of the mesh was seen in 46 (74.2%) women, folding of the anterior arm in five (8.1%) and folding of the posterior arm in 23 (37.1%). Folding occurred caudally in 26 (41.9%) women, proximally in 11 (17.7%) and in both areas in nine (14.5%). There were no erosions. CONCLUSION: Mesh visualization following minimally invasive abdominal sacrocolpopexy procedures using transperineal 3D/four-dimensional (4D) ultrasound is feasible. Studies are needed to evaluate the correlation between ultrasound measures and prolapse recurrence or mesh erosion.

Use of ultrasound in the clinical evaluation of women following colpocleisis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of transperineal ultrasound in the postoperative evaluation of patients undergoing colpocleisis. METHODS: Patients who underwent colpocleisis between July 2009 and January 2011 completed the pelvic floor distress inventory questionnaire (PFDI-20) and underwent pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) examination and four-dimensional (4D) transperineal ultrasound. Volumes were analyzed offline for assessment of pelvic organ descent, levator hiatal dimensions, levator avulsion trauma and the location of the colpocleisis scar. RESULTS: The study included 16 women, of mean ± SD age 75.7 ± 2.9 years, median body mass index 28 (range, 21-32) kg/m2 and median parity 2 (range, 0-5); one woman was nulliparous. Nine (56.2%) women were posthysterectomy. The median interval from surgery to ultrasound examination was 6.5 (range, 2-19) months. Most patients did not have symptoms of prolapse. The median pelvic organ prolapse distress inventory (POPDI-6) score was 37.5 (range, 0-75) and the median postoperative clinical POP-Q stage was 1 (range, 0-2). Ultrasound demonstrated clear visualization in all patients. Ten had avulsion defects (six were bilateral). Ultrasound estimated greater prolapse descent for all compartments when compared with the clinical examination. However, this difference was significant for anterior and posterior descent, but not for apical descent. In two women urethral diverticulum was detected on ultrasound; it was neither symptomatic nor clinically apparent. CONCLUSIONS: 4D transperineal ultrasound seems to be a potentially effective tool for the evaluation of vaginal anatomic and functional changes following colpocleisis surgery. Future investigation of the association between ultrasound findings and patients' subjective symptoms in a larger cohort is warranted.

Dimensions of the fetal facial profile in normal pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine sonographic dimensions of the fetal facial profile in normal pregnancy. METHODS: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study of 397 normal healthy fetuses at 14-33 weeks of gestation. After exclusion of the small numbers of patients at the upper GAs, 379 patients between 14.0 and 26.9 weeks of gestation were included in the analyses. The sagittal plane of the fetal facial profile was evaluated using transvaginal and transabdominal ultrasound. Distances from the tip of the nose to the mouth (the line between the lips), from the mouth to the gnathion (lower chin), from the upper philtrum to the mouth, and from the mouth to the upper concavity of the chin were measured and are presented according to gestational age (GA). RESULTS: There was a significant linear correlation between GA and the distance from the tip of the nose to the mouth (r = 0.943; P < 0.00001; y = -37.98 + 7.54 x GA), from the mouth to the gnathion (r = 0.946; P < 0.00001; y = -46.34 + 7.95 x GA), from the upper level of the philtrum to the mouth (r = 0.71; P < 0.00001; y = 0.22 + 3.33 x GA) and from the mouth to the upper concavity of the chin (r = 0.665; P < 0.00001; y = 1.65 + 2.95 x GA). The ratio between the distance from the tip of the nose to the mouth and that from the mouth to the gnathion was also almost constant throughout gestation, as was the ratio between the distance from the upper philtrum to the mouth and that from the mouth to the upper concavity of the chin. CONCLUSIONS: We provide normative data of the fetal facial profile across GA. Our data offer a potential tool for the prenatal diagnosis of abnormal fetal facial profile.

Umbilical cord cysts in the second and third trimesters: significance and prenatal approach.

OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to determine the prognosis, and the clinical approach, in fetuses with umbilical cord cysts, during the second and third trimesters of gestation, according to our experience and data in the current literature. METHODS: We identified 10 fetuses with umbilical cord cysts that were diagnosed during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy at three referral centers. All underwent detailed ultrasound evaluation at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up. Prenatal karyotype testing was offered to all women. A MEDLINE review of the literature published from 1980 to 2009 was carried out to identify previous studies and case reports of fetuses with umbilical cord cysts. RESULTS: In our series of 10 cases, significant additional abnormalities were observed in two during a detailed sonogram. In one case, trisomy 18 was diagnosed, leading to pregnancy termination, and in the other case a neonate with heart defects and a normal karyotype was born. These results differ from those reported in the literature, in which the association between second- and third-trimester umbilical cord cysts and fetal anomalies ranged from 38 to 100%. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, as in other publications, an association was found between the presence of second- and third-trimester umbilical cord cysts and fetal anomalies. The strong association between second- and third-trimester umbilical cord cysts and aneuploidy in the literature seems to be biased, mainly because of the tendency to report abnormal cases. When these findings are accompanied by additional sonographic abnormalities, the association with aneuploidy is clear and should be an indication for fetal karyotype testing.

Gestational outcome in thrombophilic women with recurrent pregnancy loss treated by enoxaparin.

Inherited and acquired thrombophilia are associated with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). We have evaluated the efficacy and safety of the low molecular weight heparin enoxaparin in 50 women, (mean age 26 +/- 3 years) with RPL (> or =3 losses in 1st, > or =2 losses in 2nd and > or =1 loss in 3rd trimester) who were found to harbor thrombophilia. Twenty-seven had a solitary thrombophilic defect, and twenty-three women had combined thrombophilic defects: 17--two defects and 6--three defects. Following diagnosis of thrombophilia, sixty-one subsequent pregnancies were treated with the low molecular weight heparin enoxaparin throughout gestation until 4 weeks after delivery. Dosage was 40 mg/day in women with solitary defect and 80 mg/day in combined defects. Aspirin, 75 mg daily was given in addition to enoxaparin to women with antiphospholipid syndrome. Forty-six out of 61 (75%) gestations treated by enoxaparin resulted in live birth compared to only 38/193 (20%) of the untreated pregnancies in these 50 women prior to diagnosis of thrombophilia (p <0.00001). In 23 women without a single living child following 82 untreated gestations, antithrombotic therapy resulted in 26/31 (84%) successful deliveries (p <0.0001). In 20 women with a prior living child, antithrombotic therapy improved successful delivery from 33/86 (38%) to 20/21 (95%) (p <0.0001). Enoxaparin dose of 40 mg/day resulted in live birth in 24/35 (69%) of gestations, compared to 19/23 (83%) gestations in women treated with 80 mg/day (p = 0.37). Only one thrombotic episode and one mild-bleeding episode were noticed during enoxaparin therapy. Enoxaparin is safe and effective in prevention of pregnancy loss in women with inherited and acquired thrombophilia.

Thrombophilic polymorphisms are common in women with fetal loss without apparent cause.

An association between fetal loss and thrombophilia has recently been described but has not been yet fully elucidated. We have evaluated prospectively the prevalence of the three common thrombophilic polymorphisms (TP) factor V G1691A (Leiden), thermolabile-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (TL-MTHFR) C677T and factor II G20210A mutations, in 76 women with fetal loss (> or =3 in first, > or =2 in second, > or =1 in third trimester) without apparent cause and 106 controls without fetal loss. Thirty seven out of 76 (49%) of the women in the fetal loss group had at least one TP compared to only 23/106 (22%) in the control group (p = 0.0001 ). Factor V-Leiden was more common in the fetal loss group 24/76 (32%) compared to the control group 11/106 (10%) (OR = 4.0, 95% CI: 1.8-8.8, p <0.001). Five of the 76 patients (7%) were homozygous for factor V-Leiden compared to none of the controls (p = 0.012). A trend, albeit no statistically significant difference was found between women with fetal loss and control groups regarding factor II G20210A (8% vs. 4% respectively, OR = 2.2, 95% CI: 0.6-8.0, p = 0.23) and MTHFR C677T (18% vs. 10% respectively, OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 0.83-4.6, p = 0.12). Combined TP were documented in 6/76 (8%) patients compared to 1/106 (1%) in controls (OR = 9.0, 95% CI: 1.1-76, p = 0.02). Second or third trimester fetal loss were more common cause of pregnancy termination in 37 patients with TP compared to 39 patients without TP (57/158 (36%) vs. 23/135 (17%) respectively, (p = 0.0004). Thrombophilic polymorphisms are common in women with fetal loss without apparent cause and are associated with late pregnancy wastage. Combinations of TP increase the risk for fetal loss.

Fetal atrioventricular blood flow throughout gestation.

The relative contribution of rapid ventricular filling to total ventricular filling increases as gestational age advances. A possible explanation for this observation is that the fetal cardiac compliance improves throughout gestation.

Renal artery flow velocity waveforms in normal and hypertensive pregnant women.

Pregnancy is associated with marked changes in renal functions. Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are frequently accompanied by deteriorated renal functions and by pathological lesions in the glomeruli. Using a pulsed Doppler ultrasound, we measured the resistance to flow in the renal artery in normal and hypertensive pregnant patients. We performed 176 pulsed Doppler ultrasound measurements of the renal arteries at various stages of gestation in 60 low risk pregnant patients. Another 111 Doppler measurements of the same vessels were obtained from 80 hypertensive pregnant patients throughout the third trimester. Twenty-six patients had preeclampsia, 35 patients had pregnancy-induced hypertension, and 19 patients had chronic hypertension. The resistance to flow in the renal arteries (expressed by the resistance index, RI) did not change significantly during pregnancy. The renal artery RI was not significantly different between the hypertensive group (RI = 0.61 +/- 0.06) and the low risk group (RI = 0.605 +/- 0.04). The RI values were also similar in all hypertensive patient categories: preeclampsia (RI = 0.62 +/- 0.07), pregnancy-induced hypertension (RI = 0.60 +/- 0.06), and chronic hypertension (RI = 0.61 +/- 0.05). The renal artery RI did not correlate with the severity of the hypertensive disease or with the status of renal functions. The outcome of pregnancy was worse in patients with abnormally elevated resistance index in the renal arteries. Patients with abnormally elevated resistance to flow in the uterine arteries also had a significant increase in the resistance index in the renal vessels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Doppler fetal echocardiography in endocardial fibroelastosis.

BACKGROUND: Endocardial fibroelastosis is a congenital heart disease known to cause congestive heart failure in early infancy. We report a case using new modalities for early prenatal diagnosis of endocardial fibroelastosis causing fetal heart failure. CASE: A multipara with two children, who died of endocardial fibroelastosis, was referred for fetal echocardiography at 20 weeks' gestation. A mildly asymmetric four-chamber view with slightly enlarged atria and no other fetal heart abnormalities suggested endocardial fibroelastosis. Doppler studies demonstrated abnormal cardiac function with extremely low atrioventricular E/A ratio, defined as the ratio between the rapid ventricular filling (E wave) and the atrial systole (A wave), and abnormal venous flow velocity waveforms establishing the diagnosis. On a repeat scan 2 weeks later, the abnormal morphologic signs suggesting endocardial fibroelastosis were more prominent, and pregnancy was terminated. CONCLUSION: When morphologic signs are not definitive, Doppler studies of the fetal heart may be useful in making the diagnosis of endocardial fibroelastosis.

Prenatal diagnosis of dilated cava septi pellucidi et vergae: associated anomalies, differential diagnosis, and pregnancy outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To study the significance of dilated cava septi pellucidi et vergae diagnosed prenatally using ultrasonography. METHODS: Sonographic examinations were performed on 11,200 pregnant women. Transabdominal sonographic examinations were done at 24 weeks or later on 3150 pregnant women and transvaginal sonographic examinations were done between 13-17 weeks on 8050 pregnant women. RESULTS: Eight cases of enlarged cava septi pellucidi et vergae were diagnosed prenatally during the second trimester of pregnancy by transvaginal sonography. In only one fetus did dilatation of cava septi pellucidi et vergae disappear during the third trimester. Associated anomalies, three of which were hydrocephalus, were observed in five fetuses. One fetus had chromosomal translocation 11/22 and one was growth-retarded. Pregnancy was terminated in four cases because of associated fetal anomalies or abnormal chromosomal analysis. One of four neonates died of unexplained metabolic acidosis. One neonate demonstrated cava septi pellucidi et vergae communication with the third ventricle and another had mild hydrocephalus on sonographic examination after birth. The three surviving fetuses had normal development during the first months of life. CONCLUSIONS: When dilated cava septi pellucidi et vergae are diagnosed prenatally, attention should be paid to the possible presence of associated fetal malformations. When a cyst of cava septi pellucidi et vergae is the only abnormal finding observed, termination of pregnancy is not justified.

Internal jugular vein blood flow in normal and growth-restricted fetuses.

OBJECTIVE: To assess internal jugular vein blood flow patterns during the second half of pregnancy in normal and growth-restricted fetuses. METHODS: We did Doppler ultrasound studies of internal jugular veins and the inferior vena cavas longitudinally on 21 normal singleton fetuses from 20 weeks to term, and on eight growth-restricted fetuses with absent end-diastolic flow at the umbilical artery (UA). The three components of the venous flow velocity waveforms were used to calculate peak velocity ratio: Peak systolic velocity (S wave) minus reverse peak velocity (R wave) divided by peak velocity during early diastole (D wave) and velocity time integral ratio: systolic velocity time integral minus reverse velocity time integral divided by velocity time integral during early diastole. Statistical analysis of longitudinal measurements used K-related samples Friedman test; groups were compared with Mann-Whitney U test and chi(2) test. RESULTS: In normal fetuses we found significant increases in peak velocity ratio and velocity time integral ratio of internal jugular veins and the inferior vena cavas throughout gestation. The mean +/- standard deviation (SD) of the internal jugular veins peak velocity ratio (1.12 +/- 0.4 versus 1.46 +/- 0.15, P <.05) and velocity time integral ratio (1.1 +/- 0.2 versus 1.55 +/- 0.17, P <.05) were significantly lower in growth-restricted fetuses compared with normal fetuses at 28-32 weeks' gestation but inferior vena cava indices were not. None of the eight growth-restricted fetuses had umbilical venous pulsations or changes in inferior vena cava or ductus venosus blood flow patterns. All had arterial pH above 7.15 at birth. CONCLUSION: Growth-restricted fetuses with absent end-diastolic velocity in the UA have changes in internal jugular vein blood flow patterns that probably indicate increased cerebral blood flow, more evidence of redistribution of blood flow in growth-restricted fetuses that can be used to maintain them.

Systolic or diastolic notch in uterine artery blood flow velocity waveforms in hypertensive pregnant patients: relationship to outcome.

To identify the relationship between a systolic or diastolic notch in uterine artery flow velocity waveforms and pregnancy outcome, we studied 140 hypertensive pregnant women with transvaginal, image-directed pulsed Doppler ultrasound. The subjects were classified according to the presence or absence of a systolic or diastolic notch. In 14 with a systolic and 25 with a diastolic notch, the resistance indexes in the uterine arteries on both sides of the uterus were significantly higher than in 101 subjects without a notch. Those with notches had significantly higher rates of fetal growth retardation and cesarean delivery because of fetal distress. Significantly more infants born to women with a notch spent longer than 48 hours in the neonatal intensive care unit. Subjects with a systolic notch also had significantly higher rates of abnormal fetal heart rate patterns during labor and low Apgar scores at 5 minutes. Fifty-one women with elevated resistances indexes in both uterine arteries were divided into two groups according to the resistance index in the umbilical artery. Each group was subdivided according to the presence or absence of a systolic or diastolic notch in the uterine artery flow velocity waveforms. In the group with a normal resistance index in the umbilical artery, five women had growth-retarded fetuses when a notch was present (N = 8), compared with none in women without a notch (N = 11) (P less than .005). The respective figures for the group with abnormal umbilical artery resistance indexes were 14 of 19 (73.7%) and two of 13 (15.4%) (P less than .002).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with recurrent pregnancy wastage: treatment and uterine blood flow.

The interest in autoimmune pregnancy loss has increased recently with the discovery of the association between the presence of antibodies to phospholipids and cardiolipin and habitual abortion. To evaluate the prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with recurrent fetal loss and the effect of low-dose aspirin and corticosteroid treatment, we examined 67 women for anticardiolipin antibodies with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Increased levels of anticardiolipin antibodies were found in 34 of these women (50.7%) and in none of 12 normal pregnant controls. Seventeen of these 34 patients conceived and were treated with aspirin, 100 mg/day, and fluocortolone, 10 mg/day. Twelve gravidas reached term, all delivering live infants with good Apgar scores and normal birth weights. Three others delivered prematurely, two of them because of premature rupture of membranes and the other because of severe fetal growth retardation. This latter woman delivered at 31 weeks, and the 1000-g infant died neonatally. The neonatal survival rate was 82% in the treated patients, versus 18% in the same group of subjects in their previous, untreated gestations. The umbilical artery resistance index of the treated subjects was not different from that of anticardiolipin-negative hypertensive women who did not receive aspirin and corticosteroid therapy. However, the uterine artery resistance index was significantly lower in the hypertensive treated group than in the untreated group. Whether this difference reflected a beneficial effect of low-dose aspirin and corticosteroid therapy on pregnancy outcome and survival rate remains to be evaluated.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia with pulmonary arteriovenous malformations.

BACKGROUND: Most congenital pulmonary arteriovenous malformations are associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. During pregnancy, pulmonary hemorrhage can occur, compromising maternal and fetal health. CASES: We studied three pregnancies in two women with hemorrhagic telangiectasia complicated by pulmonary arteriovenous malformations. A 28-year-old primigravida's fetus died at 25 weeks' gestation, and she had embolotherapy with coil springs, which corrected the hypoxemic state. In a subsequent pregnancy she delivered a healthy 2315-g infant at 38 weeks' gestation. A 19-year-old primigravida had spontaneous hemothorax at 26 weeks' gestation with severe hypoxemia and a growth-restricted fetus without umbilical artery diastolic flow. Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation was diagnosed by computed tomography of the maternal lung. She had continued pulmonary bleeding, so emergency lung lobectomy was done. Maternal hypoxemia and umbilical diastolic flow improved, and she had term delivery of a healthy 2250-g infant. CONCLUSION: Antenatal diagnosis and treatment of women with hereditary hemorrhagic telangectasia and pulmonary arteriovenous malformations might prevent potentially life-threatening fetomaternal complications.

Cardiac compliance in fetuses of diabetic women.

OBJECTIVE: To examine possible changes in cardiac function in fetuses of pregestational diabetic mothers. METHODS: We conducted a prospective longitudinal study of 31 women whose pregnancies were between 22 weeks' gestation and term, and who had pregestational diabetes. All diabetic women included in the study had glycosylated hemoglobin lower than 6.5%. All patients included in the study had an early ultrasound confirming gestational age. Doppler studies of the blood flow through the mitral and tricuspid valves were done every 4 weeks using a pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasound device with a 3.5- or 5-MHz transducer. The following indices were calculated from the flow velocity waveforms: the peak velocity during the rapid ventricular filling (E wave) and during the atrial systole (A wave), and the ratio between these velocities (E/A ratio); and the velocity time integral of the atrioventricular blood flow (this integral correlates with volume flow). A comparison between the Doppler indices obtained in fetuses of diabetic women and of normal women was made by using the Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: Each patient had four to five fetal echocardiographic examinations at 22, 26, 30, 34, and 38 weeks' gestation. The E/A ratio of the mitral and tricuspid valves did not increase in fetuses of diabetic women during the third trimester and was significantly higher in fetuses of nondiabetic women compared with fetuses of diabetic women at 34 and 38 weeks' gestation. The velocity time integral of the mitral and tricuspid valves multiplied by heart rate was higher, but not significantly, in fetuses of nondiabetic women compared with fetuses of diabetic women at 34 and 38 weeks' gestation. The E-wave of the mitral and tricuspid valves increased in both groups throughout gestation. The A-wave of the mitral and tricuspid valves increased only in fetuses of diabetic women throughout the third trimester and was significantly higher at 34 and 38 weeks' gestation compared with fetuses of nondiabetic women. CONCLUSION: Differences in atrioventricular blood flow patterns between fetuses of diabetic women and normal fetuses do not necessarily result from differences in cardiac compliance.

Differentiating malignant from benign ovarian tumors with transvaginal color flow imaging.

The impedance to blood flow was examined by transvaginal color flow imaging in 53 ovarian masses before exploratory laparotomy. Serum CA 125 levels were measured in all subjects. Thirty-six had benign ovarian tumors and 17 had malignant ovarian tumors confirmed by histopathologic examination. Intratumoral blood vessels, detected in 16 of the malignant tumors, consistently demonstrated low impedance to flow, with a pulsatility index (PI) always below 1. The PI of the intraovarian or intratumoral blood vessels was greater than 1 in 35 of the 36 benign tumors, although 11 had suspicious sonographic findings (P less than .01) and 14 had elevated CA 125 levels (P less than .001). The sensitivity and specificity of the preoperative PI in detecting malignant ovarian tumors were 94 and 97%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of preoperative suspicious sonographic findings in detecting malignant ovarian tumors were 94 and 69%, and those of elevated preoperative serum CA 125 levels were 82 and 61%, respectively. Our results suggest that transvaginal color flow imaging may be a useful clinical tool in the preoperative evaluation of ovarian masses.

Doppler study of the fetal cardiac function in prolonged pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between fetal cardiac function and amniotic fluid index (AFI) in postterm fetuses, and to determine if changes in fetal cardiac function precede the occurrence of nonreassuring intrapartum fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns. METHODS: Forty-five otherwise low-risk pregnant women between 41 and 43 weeks' gestation were studied longitudinally. Gestational age was confirmed in all patients by ultrasound before 20 weeks' gestation. Each subject had two or three tests performed every 3-4 days, including a non-stress test, a biophysical profile, and Doppler studies of the aortic and pulmonic outflow tracts. Aortic and pulmonic artery flow velocity waveforms were recorded slightly distal to the valves. Peak velocity, velocity time integral, and heart rate were calculated from the flow velocity waveforms we obtained. The change in AFI and aortic and pulmonic peak velocity and [velocity time integral] x [heart rate] were calculated for each fetus. RESULTS: Labor was induced at 42 weeks' gestation in 20 patients, and 17 entered labor spontaneously. Changes in AFI, observed during the follow-up period, correlated significantly with changes in aortic peak velocity (r = 0.54, P < .01) and with aortic outflow [velocity time integral] x [heart rate] (r = 0.60, P < .001) but not with pulmonic peak velocity and [velocity time integral] x [heart rate]. The decrease in aortic peak velocity and aortic and pulmonic [velocity time integral] x [heart rate] was significantly higher (P < .01) in eight fetuses that developed a nonreassuring intrapartum FHR (reduced FHR variability, late decelerations, and severe variable decelerations) than in those who had an uneventful labor. CONCLUSION: In prolonged pregnancies, cardiac function deteriorates in fetuses that develop a nonreassuring intrapartum FHR, and the changes in the left cardiac function correlate with changes in AFI.

Assessment of ovarian and uterine blood flow by transvaginal color Doppler in ovarian-stimulated women: correlation with the number of follicles and steroid hormone levels.

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes that occur in vascular resistance to flow in the utero-ovarian circulation and their correlation with the number of follicles and steroid hormone levels in patients undergoing ovarian stimulation with gonadotropin. DESIGN: In a prospective study, the impedance to flow in the intraovarian and uterine vessels was measured by means of transvaginal color flow Doppler imaging throughout the cycle. SETTING: University-based IVF program. PATIENTS: Eleven infertile patients undergoing ovarian stimulation with gonadotropin in preparation for IVF and ET. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intraovarian, uterine, and arcuate artery blood flow velocity waveforms, follicular growth, and serum E2 and P concentrations throughout the cycle. RESULTS: Pulsatility index (PI) of the intraovarian blood vessels and uterine artery decreased gradually during the follicular and luteal phase. The PI of the arcuate artery did not change significantly. The PI of the intraovarian blood vessels correlated with the number of follicles (> 15 mm; day of hCG). Serum E2 concentrations but not P demonstrated negative linear correlation with the PI of the intraovarian vessels and uterine artery. CONCLUSIONS: Induced cycles are associated with decreased impedance to blood flow in the utero-ovarian circulation. Intraovarian PI correlates negatively at each stage of the cycle with the eventual number of preovulatory follicles. Little or no changes are observed when the response to ovarian stimulation is poor.