Evaluation of an artificial intelligent algorithm (Heartassist™) to automatically assess the quality of second trimester cardiac views: a prospective study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the agreement between visual and automatic methods in assessing the adequacy of fetal cardiac views obtained during second trimester ultrasonographic examination.

Methods: In a prospective observational study frames of the four-chamber view left and right outflow tracts, and three-vessel trachea view were obtained from 120 consecutive singleton low-risk women undergoing second trimester ultrasound at 19-23 weeks of gestation. For each frame, the quality assessment was performed by an expert sonographer and by an artificial intelligence software (Heartassist™).

Expert ultrasonographic evaluation in fetuses with spina bifida: An essential prerequisite to select candidate to fetal surgery.

Suggested management flowchart in presence of a prenatal diagnosis of open spina bifida.

Fetal brain biometry and cortical development after maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy: A prospective case-control study.

Objectives: To assess cerebral growth and the development of fetal cortex using neurosonography in fetuses from pregnancies experiencing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) according to infection timing.

Methods: Pregnancies with by SARS-CoV-2 during first and second trimesters were prospectively studied and matched with unaffected controls. Enclosed women underwent neurosonography at 30-34 weeks of gestation and corpus callosum (CC) and cerebellar vermis (CV) lengths measured.

Placental Volume and Uterine Artery Doppler in Pregnancy Following In Vitro Fertilization: A Comprehensive Literature Review.

The number of pregnancies achieved using in vitro fertilization (IVF) is rapidly increasing around the world. The chance of obtaining a successful pregnancy is also significantly improved due to technological advances and improvement in infertility treatment. Despite this success, there is evidence that pregnancy conceived by IVF has an increased risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcome mainly represented by the development of hypertensive diseases, pre-eclampsia, and fetal growth restriction.

Fetal brain biometry and cortical development in congenital heart disease: A prospective cross sectional study.

Objective: To evaluate brain biometry and cortical development by neurosonography in fetuses with congenital heart defect (CHD) and evaluate differences among different type of CHD.

Methods: In a prospective cross sectional study singleton fetus with CHD were matched with controls and grouped into two categories according to the predicted severity of cerebral arterial oxygen deficit induced by the CHD: Group A mildly reduced or normal and Group B moderately to severely reduced. Neurosonography was done at 30-33 weeks to obtain measurements of corpus callosum (CC), cerebellar vermis (CV), Sylvian fissure (SF) insula, parieto-occipital fissure (POF), and calcarine sulci fissures (CSF).

Maternal cardiovascular function in the prediction of fetal distress in labor: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: To explore the strength of association and the diagnostic accuracy of maternal hemodynamic parameters detected noninvasively in predicting an adverse perinatal outcome in labor.

Methods: Prospective cohort study of singleton women undergoing antepartum care at 37-39 weeks of gestation. A noninvasive ultrasonic cardiac output monitor (USCOM®) was used for cardiovascular assessment.

Ultrasound vs routine care before instrumental vaginal delivery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: The objective was to report the role of intrapartum ultrasound examination in affecting maternal and perinatal outcome in women undergoing instrumental vaginal delivery.

Material And Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Google Scholar and ClinicalTrial.gov databases were searched.

Prediction of delivery after 40 weeks by antepartum ultrasound in singleton multiparous women: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: Universal elective induction of labor (IOL) in singleton parous pregnancies has been advocated to reduce the rate of cesarean section (CD), without impacting on maternal outcome. However, about 50% of women deliver after 40 weeks; therefore, an accurate estimation of the time of delivery might avoid unnecessary early IOL. The aim of this study was to test the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound in predicting delivery ≥40 weeks of gestation in singleton parous women.

Intrapartum sonographic assessment of the fetal head flexion in protracted active phase of labor and association with labor outcome: a multicenter, prospective study.

Background: To date, no research has focused on the sonographic quantification of the degree of flexion of the fetal head in relation to the labor outcome in women with protracted active phase of labor.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the relationship between the transabdominal sonographic indices of fetal head flexion and the mode of delivery in women with protracted active phase of labor.

Study Design: Prospective evaluation of women with protracted active phase of labor recruited across 3 tertiary maternity units.

Effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection during the second half of pregnancy on fetal growth and hemodynamics: A prospective study.

Introduction: Our objective was to compare the fetal growth velocity and fetal hemodynamics in pregnancies complicated and in those not complicated by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.

Material And Methods: Prospective case-control study of consecutive pregnancies complicated by SARS-CoV-2 infection during the second half of pregnancy matched with unaffected women. The z scores of head circumference, abdominal circumference, femur length, and estimated fetal weight were compared between the two groups.

Modeling gestational age centiles for fetal umbilicocerebral ratio by quantile regression analysis: a secondary analysis of a prospective cross-sectional study.

Objective: There is a lack of evidence on whether to favor cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) or umbilicocerebral ratio (UCR) when assessing pregnancies at risk of fetal growth restriction. The Recent evidences highlight a significant heterogeneity in the methodology of previously published studies reporting reference ranges for Doppler indices, which may affect the clinical applicability of these charts. The aim of this study was to develop charts of UCR based upon a recently proposed standardized methodology and using quantile regression.

Intrapartum Doppler ultrasound: where are we now?

Intrapartum hypoxic events most commonly occur in low-risk pregnancies with appropriately grown fetuses. Continuous intrapartum monitoring by means of cardiotocography has not demonstrated a reduction in the frequency of adverse perinatal outcome but has been linked with an increase in the caesarean section rate, particularly among women considered at low risk. Available data from the literature suggests that abnormalities in the uterine artery Doppler and in the ratio between fetal cerebral and umbilical Doppler (i.