Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2001;23(10):659-665
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032001001000008
Purpose: evaluation of perinatal outcome of brain-sparing effect detected by color Doppler. Methods: brain-sparing effect was detected in 32 fetuses at the Ultrasound Service of the Center for Integral Attention to Women's Health at Campinas State University (UNICAMP). The diagnosis of brain-sparing effect was made when the ratio between middle cerebral artery and umbilical artery pulsatility indexes was below one (IPACM/IPAU <1). The measurement was obtained with color Doppler equipment Toshiba SSH-140A. Results: admission to neonatal intensive care unit (ICU) was necessary in 26 fetuses (89.6%). The number of days in ICU varied from 1 to 83 days, with a mean of 22 days. Fetal mortality rate was 3 in 32 (9.4%) and perinatal mortality was 9 in 29 (31%). Considering the gestational age by the Capurro method, the incidence of birth below 36 weeks was 21 in 32 (65.6%). Intrauterine growth restriction occurred in 71.8% of the cases and hypoglycemia in 44.8%. Conclusions: brain-sparing effect is a condition in which the fetus is at serious risk of adverse perinatal outcome and Doppler studies might be helpful in the obstetric management.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2001;23(3):137-143
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032001000300002
Purpose: to study, in high risk pregnancies with cerebral redistribution of blood flow, the fetal surveillance and perinatal outcome, according to umbilical artery dopplervelocimetry. Methods: a total of 717 high-risk pregnancies attended at the Fetal Surveillance Unit were included. The last examination performed until 72 h prior to delivery was taken into account. Multiple gestations and fetal anomalies were excluded. The redistribution of blood flow was diagnosed if the pulsatility index of middle cerebral artery was below the 5th percentile for gestational age. The umbilical artery dopplervelocimetry was abnormal when A/B ratio was more than the 95th p. Results: in the group with normal umbilical artery dopplervelocimetry (560 cases -- 78.1%), significant correlation was found only between redistribution of blood flow and suspected or abnormal cardiotocography (17.1%). In the group with abnormal umbilical artery dopplervelocimetry (157 cases -- 21.9%) we found significant correlation between redistribution of blood flow (105 cases -- 66.9%) and cardiotocography abnormalities (57.2%), abnormal 1st(43.8%) and 5th (12.4%) minute Apgar scores. In these cases, the mean values of gestational age at delivery (34.4 ± 3.6 weeks), birth weight (1,810.5 ± 769.3 g), and pH at birth (7.20 ± 0.1) were significantly lower. Conclusion: The redistribution of fetal blood flow characterized by means of middle cerebral artery dopplervelocimetry is related to perinatal results when some level of placental insufficiency occurs, and does not present association to perinatal outcome when pregnancy shows normal fetal-placental blood flow.