Perinatal outcome in pregnancies with intra-uterine growth restriction by using umbilical and middle cerebral artery colour Doppler.

There are various biophysical methods used for diagnosing and monitoring foetal well being using in intra-uterine growth restriction foetus, out of which Doppler velocimetry proved to possess the predictive capacity in diagnosing and management of intra-uterine growth restriction foetuses. The objectives were to study Doppler velocimetry of foetal umbilical artery and middle cerebral artery in diagnosing intra-uterine growth restriction and to correlate Doppler finding with perinatal outcome. Random 50 patients with singleton pregnancies admitted in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital were studied in a duration of 1 year. Umbilical artery and middle cerebral artery were studied during foetal inactivity and apnoea. Percentage of normal and abnormal Doppler velocimetry of umbilical artery and middle cerebral artery was observed and its relation with perinatal outcome analysed. Out of 50 patients, 30% had normal and 70% had abnormal umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry. Neonatal intensive care unit admission was 20% in normal and 71.42% in abnormal umbilical artery Doppler, 46.4% in normal and 68.1% in abnormal middle cerebral artery Doppler and 9.09% in normal and 69.23% in abnormal cerebroplacental index. Neonatal mortality was 0% in normal and 14.3% in abnormal umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry. Oligohydramnios was 26% in normal and 71% in abnormal umbilical artery Doppler. The study revealed that overall perinatal outcome was poor in abnormal Doppler velocimetry group in comparison to normal group. Doppler investigation of the foetal circulation not only plays an important role in monitoring of the growth restricted foetuses but also helps in detecting foetal compromises early in intra-uterine growth restriction foetuses and thereby helps to determine the optimal time for delivery.