Hemodynamic changes in the fetal arteries during the second half of pregnancy assessed by Doppler velocimetry.

The applicability of Doppler velocimetry has been well established regarding intrauterine growth restriction and fetal hypoxia. This method can also be used to determine fetal anemia and cardiac malformations. The main fetal arteries evaluated by Doppler velocimetry are the middle cerebral artery and the umbilical artery.

Fetal hemodynamics evaluated by Doppler velocimetry in the second half of pregnancy.

The objective of our study was to assess fetal hemodynamics by Doppler velocimetry during the second half of pregnancy. We carried out a longitudinal study on 33 normal fetuses between the 22nd and 38th weeks of gestation. Doppler velocimetry was performed in the aorta, suprarenal (SRA) and infrarenal (IRA) segments, middle cerebral artery (MCA) and umbilical artery (UA), on the basis of fetal peak systolic velocity (SV), end-diastolic velocity (DV) and resistance index (RI).