[The importance of pulsed Doppler sonography for prenatal diagnosis of placental insufficiency--studies of 198 patients].

Doppler sonographic measurements of the fetal aorta and the carotid artery were performed on 198 pregnant patients having been diagnosed with a placental insufficiency. A relationship between them and fetal as well as non-fetal factors was examined. For the fetal factors minus difference in weight of birth and perinatal morbidity there could be established a definite correlation with corresponding resistance-index (RI) of the examined vessels. The criteria for the fetal outcome Apgar-note and pH-value of the cord blood didn't show absolutely equal changes with a deteriorated blood perfusion, what might be due to the management of birth as well as it indicates the close correlation of these values with the course of birth. Among the non-fetal factors there could be shown close relationships between the duration of pregnancy as well as age and the values of resistance-indices. While the ones, mentioned first, decreased in an almost linear relationship with RI-deterioration, did the fetal circulatory situation ameliorate with an increasing maternal age. Possible factors of influence, especially on the duration of pregnancy as well as the relationship between the maternal age and the fetal condition of perfusion were discussed. Pulsed doppler sonographic measurement is an efficient step in diagnosing a suspected placental insufficiency and has an outstanding value in an early recognition of possible dangers for the fetus.