Fetal and maternal Doppler blood flow parameters in postterm pregnancies.

In this preliminary investigation, we sought evidence of increasing impedance to placental blood flow from both sides of the placenta and evidence of compromised fetal aortic blood flow in 35 human pregnancies exceeding 42 weeks' gestation. Fetal age was confirmed by biparietal diameter (BPD) measurements obtained before 21 weeks. Pourcelot's Index, calculated from Doppler sonograms recorded with a noninvasive technique from small arteries in the myometrium and from an umbilical cord artery, did not correlate with the duration of the pregnancy beyond term. However, this "resistance index" of Pourcelot was higher in the umbilical cord arteries of fetuses with a worse clinical outcome. Doppler blood cell velocity in the fetal descending aorta correlated significantly and negatively with the prolongation of gestation. Fetal aortic velocities appeared to be lower in fetuses who passed meconium before delivery. Our findings suggest that fetal compromise in prolonged pregnancy is more a fetal-placental problem than a uteroplacental problem.

Fetal blood velocities in Rh isoimmunization: relationship to gestational age and to fetal hematocrit.

Doppler blood cell velocities were measured in the aortas, inferior vena cavas, and umbilical veins of fetuses from isoimmunized pregnancies and related to the hematocrit levels of the fetal blood determined at fetoscopy. Pourcelot Index of flow in the umbilical artery was similarly studied. The mean velocities in the descending aortas and the Pourcelot Indexes of the umbilical arteries of both normal and affected fetuses correlated with fetal age. These velocities and indexes of affected fetuses also correlated inversely with the fetal hematocrit levels independently of the correlation with fetal age. The affected fetuses had higher mean velocities in the aorta and in the inferior vena cava than did normal fetuses. A simple model of multiple regression predicted the fetal hematocrit levels with a mean error of 3.8 hematocrit units (volume %).

Prenatal recognition of central nervous system complications of alloimmune thrombocytopenia.

The radiological findings associated with alloimmune thrombocytopenia have not been well described. We present two such cases diagnosed in utero by ultrasound and discuss the radiographic findings of intracranial hemorrhage and hydrocephalus secondary to alloimmune thrombocytopenia. An awareness of this entity and its early diagnosis and intervention may greatly reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with alloimmune thrombocytopenia.

Management of burns in pregnant women.

Although few women sustain thermal injuries during pregnancy, when pregnancy is complicated by thermal injury a clear management scheme plus a team approach is needed to provide optimal care to both the fetus and mother. The clinical courses of 11 pregnant women treated at the Louisiana State University Medical Center after sustaining thermal injuries were reviewed and combined with 29 other instances from the literature. Fetal survival before 28 weeks of gestation appears to be dependent upon maternal survival. After 32 weeks of gestational age, fetal survival becomes increasingly independent of maternal survival if fetal distress can be minimized. Although in general, optimal care of the fetus coincides with the care of the mother, occasionally the medical needs of the mother and fetus are different. Therefore, we have developed maternal and fetal medical care schemes to serve as general guidelines for the care of the pregnant patients with burns.

Prevention of neonatal macrosomia in gestational diabetes by the use of intensive dietary therapy and home glucose monitoring.

This study was undertaken to determine if intensive dietary therapy, home blood glucose monitoring, and the selective use of insulin can be effective in preventing fetal macrosomia. All patients were screened at 24 to 28 weeks' gestation using a modification of O'Sullivan's criteria. The 153 patients diagnosed as gestational diabetics by the study protocol were placed on a 1800 to 2000 Kcal American Diabetes Association diet and taught home glucose monitoring. Insulin therapy was initiated only if blood glucose control was inadequate. There were no significant differences (p greater than 0.05) between the study and reference populations in regard to mean birthweight or the incidence of macrosomia. Since our study criteria for diagnosing gestational diabetes were slightly different from those of the National Diabetes Data Group (NDDG), data from 99 patients meeting the NDDG criteria were analyzed in a similar manner. No significant differences were found between this subgroup and the reference population. Since only 7.2% of our study patients required insulin, we conclude that the incidence of fetal macrosomia in gestational diabetes can be kept equal to that of the general population by a program of intensive dietary therapy and home glucose monitoring, with insulin being used only therapeutically, not prophylactically.