Characteristics of blood flow in intrauterine growth-restricted fetuses with hypercoiled cord.

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the characteristics of fetoplacental blood flow of growth-restricted fetuses with hypercoiled umbilical cord.

SUBJECTS

Eight growth-restricted fetuses with hypercoiled cord.

METHODS

Flow velocity waveforms of the umbilical cord artery and vein, fetal abdominal aorta and fetal inferior vena cava were analyzed.

RESULTS

The resistance index in the umbilical artery in the hypercoiled cases was lower than that in normal fetuses. Early-diastolic reversed flow was observed in the abdominal aorta in some cases. In all cases, umbilical venous pulsation was observed in the entire cord until delivery. In one case, fetal heart failure occurred, resulting in pre-mature delivery. An atrophic type of single umbilical artery was observed in four cases.

CONCLUSION

Fetal blood flow disturbance caused by a hypercoiled umbilical cord may be a cause of growth restriction.