Umbilical artery flow velocity waveform analysis and assessment of fetal oxygenation.

Assessment of the fetal condition is an important but also difficult problem. During the last decades a number of new fetal monitoring techniques have been introduced into clinical practice without proper evaluation regarding its value for clinical practice beforehand. The last fetal monitoring technique introduced into clinical practice in such a way is the assessment of the fetal condition with umbilical artery flow velocity waveform analyses. Although in cases with zeroflow or reverse flow during diastole the complication rate is high, it is not possible to assess the fetal oxygenation by means of recording the umbilical artery pulsatility index and its changes. Moreover no adequate treatment of fetal hypoxia is yet available, except termination of pregnancy. It is important in this context to realize that prematurity in itself is still the most powerful determining factor for the further development of the child.