Ultrasonography Archives - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2001;23(9):553-558
06-25-2001
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032001000900002
Purpose: to evaluate the role of routine obstetrical ultrasound scan in suspecting the presence of fetal congenital heart diseases and severe arrhythmias, as well as the factors involved in its accuracy. Methods: the sample was made up of 77 neonates and infants hospitalized at the Institute of Cardiology of Rio Grande do Sul from May to October of 2000, with confirmed postnatal diagnosis of structural heart disease or severe arrhythmia, whose mothers had been submitted to at least one obstetrical ultrasound scan after 18 weeks of gestation. After informed consent, a customized standard questionnaire was used. Categorical variables were compared using chi² test or Fisher's exact test and a logistic regression model was used to determine independent variables possibly involved in the prenatal suspicion of cardiac abnormalities. Results: in 19 patients (24.6%), obstetrical ultrasound was able to rise prenatal suspicion of structural or rhythm abnormalities. Considering only congenital heart diseases, this prevalence was 19.2% (14/73). In 73.7% of these cases, the cardiac disorder was accessible by the four-chamber view alone. Arrhythmias during obstetrical scan were observed in 26.3 of the babies with prenatal suspicion of a heart abnormality, while only 3.4% of the patients without prenatal suspicion showed a rhythm alteration (p=0.009). Significant differences between the groups with and without prenatal suspicion of cardiac abnormalities were observed in relation to parity (p=0.029), delivery by cesarean section (p=0.006), need for intensive care (p=0.046) and school education level of the father (p=0.014). At multivariate analysis, only the presence of a rhythm alteration during ultrasound scan was shown to be an independent variable associated with prenatal suspicion of cardiac abnormalities. Conclusions: routine obstetrical ultrasound has been underused in prenatal screening of congenital heart diseases. Adequate training and making obstetricians and the population a ware of the problem may be instruments for increasing the efficacy of routine obstetrical ultrasound in rising the suspicion of fetal cardiac abnormalities.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2001;23(9):553-558
06-25-2001
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032001000900002
Purpose: to evaluate the role of routine obstetrical ultrasound scan in suspecting the presence of fetal congenital heart diseases and severe arrhythmias, as well as the factors involved in its accuracy. Methods: the sample was made up of 77 neonates and infants hospitalized at the Institute of Cardiology of Rio Grande do Sul from May to October of 2000, with confirmed postnatal diagnosis of structural heart disease or severe arrhythmia, whose mothers had been submitted to at least one obstetrical ultrasound scan after 18 weeks of gestation. After informed consent, a customized standard questionnaire was used. Categorical variables were compared using chi² test or Fisher's exact test and a logistic regression model was used to determine independent variables possibly involved in the prenatal suspicion of cardiac abnormalities. Results: in 19 patients (24.6%), obstetrical ultrasound was able to rise prenatal suspicion of structural or rhythm abnormalities. Considering only congenital heart diseases, this prevalence was 19.2% (14/73). In 73.7% of these cases, the cardiac disorder was accessible by the four-chamber view alone. Arrhythmias during obstetrical scan were observed in 26.3 of the babies with prenatal suspicion of a heart abnormality, while only 3.4% of the patients without prenatal suspicion showed a rhythm alteration (p=0.009). Significant differences between the groups with and without prenatal suspicion of cardiac abnormalities were observed in relation to parity (p=0.029), delivery by cesarean section (p=0.006), need for intensive care (p=0.046) and school education level of the father (p=0.014). At multivariate analysis, only the presence of a rhythm alteration during ultrasound scan was shown to be an independent variable associated with prenatal suspicion of cardiac abnormalities. Conclusions: routine obstetrical ultrasound has been underused in prenatal screening of congenital heart diseases. Adequate training and making obstetricians and the population a ware of the problem may be instruments for increasing the efficacy of routine obstetrical ultrasound in rising the suspicion of fetal cardiac abnormalities.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2001;23(9):567-571
06-25-2001
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032001000900004
Purpose: to determine normal ranges for fetal heart rate (FHR) between the 10th and 14th week of pregnancy. Methods: a total of 1078 fetuses within a crown-rump length (CRL) from the 10th to the 14th week of pregnancy were evaluated. The fetuses were divided into 4 groups: Group I (10 weeks), Group II (11 weeks), Group III (12 weeks), Group IV (13 weeks). The fetal heart was seen using B-mode/M-mode at a sagital plane and FHR was recorded. FHR was electronically calculated using calipers within 3 consecutive cycles without fetal moveiments. Results: FRH ranged from 136 to 178 bpm among the 1078 studied fetuses. Median values and standard deviations (5 and 95 percentiles) were calculated for each group. The FHR range for each group was: 158 to 184 bpm (Group I); 155 to 175 bpm (Group II); 152 to 172 bpm (Group III) and 149 to 168 bpm (Group IV). Our main finding was a progressive reduction in FHR during the time period under consideration. Discussion: FHR evaluation in the first trimester of gestation is a simple procedure and should be analyzed not only qualitatively but also quantitatively. Published papers have shown a relation ship between FHR and fetal prognosis.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2001;23(9):567-571
06-25-2001
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032001000900004
Purpose: to determine normal ranges for fetal heart rate (FHR) between the 10th and 14th week of pregnancy. Methods: a total of 1078 fetuses within a crown-rump length (CRL) from the 10th to the 14th week of pregnancy were evaluated. The fetuses were divided into 4 groups: Group I (10 weeks), Group II (11 weeks), Group III (12 weeks), Group IV (13 weeks). The fetal heart was seen using B-mode/M-mode at a sagital plane and FHR was recorded. FHR was electronically calculated using calipers within 3 consecutive cycles without fetal moveiments. Results: FRH ranged from 136 to 178 bpm among the 1078 studied fetuses. Median values and standard deviations (5 and 95 percentiles) were calculated for each group. The FHR range for each group was: 158 to 184 bpm (Group I); 155 to 175 bpm (Group II); 152 to 172 bpm (Group III) and 149 to 168 bpm (Group IV). Our main finding was a progressive reduction in FHR during the time period under consideration. Discussion: FHR evaluation in the first trimester of gestation is a simple procedure and should be analyzed not only qualitatively but also quantitatively. Published papers have shown a relation ship between FHR and fetal prognosis.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2002;24(5):301-306
07-24-2002
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002000500003
Purpose: to compare the outcome of pregnancies with and without threatened abortion presenting alive embryo/fetus between 6 and 13 weeks at sonographic evaluation. Method: this was a retrospective case-control study, carried out from February 1998 to December 1999. Criteria for inclusion were: topic and single pregnancy; embryo/fetus cardiac activity present in the ultrasound scan; gestational age between 6 weeks and 13 weeks and 6 days, absence of fetal anomalies, absence of attempt of abortion by drugs or manipulation, absence of maternal disease, known pregnancy result. A total of 1531 pregnancies were examined, of which 258 with threatened abortion (case group) and 1273 without threatened abortion (control group). The two groups were compared regarding outcome such as: abortion, stillbirth, prematurity and intrauterine growth restriction. Results: the percentage of abortion (11,7%) and prematurity (17,8%) were higher in the group with threatened abortion (p<0.001 and p=0.026, respectively). The frequency of stillbirth and intrauterine growth restriction did not differ significantly between the groups.Conclusion: threatened abortion with alive embryo/fetus in 6- to 13- week gestation presented a higher abortion risk and subsequent prematurity.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2002;24(5):301-306
07-24-2002
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002000500003
Purpose: to compare the outcome of pregnancies with and without threatened abortion presenting alive embryo/fetus between 6 and 13 weeks at sonographic evaluation. Method: this was a retrospective case-control study, carried out from February 1998 to December 1999. Criteria for inclusion were: topic and single pregnancy; embryo/fetus cardiac activity present in the ultrasound scan; gestational age between 6 weeks and 13 weeks and 6 days, absence of fetal anomalies, absence of attempt of abortion by drugs or manipulation, absence of maternal disease, known pregnancy result. A total of 1531 pregnancies were examined, of which 258 with threatened abortion (case group) and 1273 without threatened abortion (control group). The two groups were compared regarding outcome such as: abortion, stillbirth, prematurity and intrauterine growth restriction. Results: the percentage of abortion (11,7%) and prematurity (17,8%) were higher in the group with threatened abortion (p<0.001 and p=0.026, respectively). The frequency of stillbirth and intrauterine growth restriction did not differ significantly between the groups.Conclusion: threatened abortion with alive embryo/fetus in 6- to 13- week gestation presented a higher abortion risk and subsequent prematurity.