Prognostic Factors of Perinatal Short-term Outcome in Severe Placental Insufficiency Using Doppler Sonography to Assess End-diastolic Absent and Reverse Blood Flow in Umbilical Arteries

Significant placental insufficiency, indicated by Doppler ultrasound findings of absent or reverse end-diastolic flow velocities (AREDV), is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Analysis of blood flow in the ductus venosus should assist in early intrauterine recognition of threatened foetuses. 58 high-risk pregnancies with umbilical AREDV were repeatedly examined (n = 364). Doppler findings were correlated with neonatal signs of deterioration (ratio of normoblasts to leukocytes, pH, base excess, Apgar score), as well as short-term morbidity [ need for intubation, duration of assisted respiration, evidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH grade III + IV)] against the analysis of the blood flow findings (normal or increased pulsitility, absence or reverse end-diastolic flow) in the umbilical arteries (AU), the middle cerebral arteries (ACM) and ductus venosus (DV) relating these to birth weight and the duration of the pregnancy. The median period of observation was 12.8 days, 48% of the foetuses showed an abnormal ductus venosus flow and 26% an absent venous or reverse end-diastolic flow. The median date of delivery was 30 weeks, with a mean birth weight of 816g. 93% were live births with 12% dying postnatally. Although the criteria for postnatal morbidity (BPD, NEC, IVH III + IV) and mortality did not correlate with changes in arterial and venous Doppler parameters in our group, there was a significant relationship between the normoblast count, known to be a marker of chronic hypoxia. The Apgar 10 minte score, umbilical arterial pH and base excess were correlated with changes in the DV flow curves. Healthy survival started, irrespective of arterial or venous blood flow criteria, from 27 + 0 weeks of pregnancy. If born between 27.0 and 30 + 6 weeks, the infants were more likely to be healthy the less the blood flow had been compromised. A birth weight of 590g (sensitivity 62.5%; specificity 93.5%) and gestational age of 28 + 5 weeks (sensitivity 87.5%; specificity 90.3%) were shown to be cut-off points between healthy survival and survival with serious neonatal complications.