[Diagnostic and clinical value of Doppler sonography of fetal blood vessels].

Fetal Dopplersonography is a not generally applicable additive method in prenatal care. Its main value is the non-invasive access to the fetal cardiovascular system. Previous studies show a diagnostic gain in sonographically and clinically pathologic pregnancies, mainly those with intrauterine growth retardation.

Successful intrauterine treatment of fetal hydrops caused by parvovirus B19 infection.

The infection with parvovirus B19 during pregnancy causes in 1/3 of the cases an aplastic crisis in the fetus and consecutively generalized fetal hydrops as a result of severe anemia. Some cases of fetal hydrops and intrauterine death are reported. In our two cases, the fetal therapy by intrauterine intravasal transfusion was successful and the children developed normal.

[Sonographic diagnosis of fetal liver cysts].

The authors report on prenatal ultrasonic diagnosis of foetal liver cysts with a massively thickened and cystic placenta in the twenty-third week of pregnancy. Karyotyping and serological examination of foetal blood samples of the umbilical vein gave normal results. The liver cysts were tapped twice subsequently, because they displaced other foetal abdominal and thoracic organs.

[Ultrasonic diagnosis of a fetal lung cyst].

The authors report on prenatal sonographic diagnosis of a large congenital solitary bronchiogenic pulmonary cyst in the 21st week of pregnancy. The cyst became progressively smaller during the further pregnancy course. After delivery on term the bronchial cyst was removed by surgery.

[Sonographic diagnosis of fetal development disorders at the 1st Gynecologic Clinic of the Munich University 1984].

The diagnostic accuracy of sonographic screening is demonstrated by the results obtained in 171 pregnant women referred to the Department of Gynaecology of the University of Munich during 1984 for on-target sonography of foetal developmental disturbances. The accuracy was found to be 80%. Examination of pregnant women at risk shows a very low rate of developmental disturbances.

[Postpartum streptococcal gangrene].

A case of acute hemolytic streptococcal gangrene is presented. Typical signs of this disease are local pain, erythema, edema, formation of blisters, and gangrene. Malaise and fever are more unspecific.

[The value of alpha-1-fetoprotein determinations in the amniotic-fluid of patients with hydramnios in the diagnosis of fetal anomalies (author's transl)].

Little is known about the influence of hydramnios on the alphafetoprotein (AFP)-concentration in the amniotic fluid. We therefore investigated in 19 patients with hydramnios the diagnostic value of the sonographic evidence and the AFP-concentration in the amniotic fluid in relation to prenatal diagnosis of fetal malformations in two independent series. An anlysis of the AFP-concentration in the amniotic fluid can corroborate the diagnosis of a malformation made by sonography and influence decisions concerning the management of pregnancy and delivery.

[Clinical experience with fetoscopy (author's transl)].

From December 1975 to July 1979 28 fetoscopies were made in the I. UFK Munich, 25 in local anaesthesia and under ultrasonic control using the real time scanner. 20 fetoscopies were made up to the 24th week of pregnancy, preceding an interruptio for medical or genetic reasons.