[Monitoring umbilical cord puncture and intravascular transfusions with Doppler ultrasound].

Complications of percutaneous umbilical blood samplings and intravascular transfusions can be detected rapidly, easily and efficiently by Doppler ultrasound and therefore the operator can react as early as possible. In addition to real-time sonography Doppler ultrasound allows for assessment of haemodynamical changes due to intravascular transfusions both on the venous and arterial side of umbilical perfusion. Because of immediate recognition of bradycardia and other fetal cardiac frequency alterations as well as increase of resistance to blood flow on the arterial side the operator can react promptly. On the venous side correct application of transfused volume is monitored continuously by changes of flow velocity waveforms during injection and allows to assess dislocation of the needle.