Effects of antenatal corticosteroids on fetal hemodynamics: a longitudinal study.

Objective: To study the effect of antenatal corticosteroid administration on fetal hemodynamics using longitudinal analysis of Doppler waveforms in the umbilical artery (UA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA).

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective study that included 30 fetuses at risk for preterm birth. Twenty-eight pregnant women were treated with betamethasone for fetal lung maturation.

Cervical length measurement between 11 and 13 + 6 weeks of pregnancy: Comparison of maternal and ultrasonographic characteristics between term and preterm deliveries.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the maternal and ultrasonographic characteristics of pregnant women who underwent cervical length (CL) measurement by transvaginal ultrasound between 11 and 13 + 6 weeks of gestation and who delivered at term or preterm.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out between March 2013 and December 2018 by analyzing ultrasound data of singleton pregnant women who underwent CL measurement by transvaginal ultrasound during the first trimester scan. CL was compared between the two groups (full-term and preterm birth [PB]) using Student's t-test.

Fetal hemodynamics and placental histopathology in Down syndrome.

Objective: To evaluate the association between Doppler patterns in fetuses with Down syndrome (DS) and their placental histopathologic findings.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed by collecting data from medical records of singleton pregnancies between January 2014 and January 2022, whose fetuses had a confirmed diagnosis of DS either prenatally or postnatally. Placental histopathology, maternal characteristics, and prenatal ultrasound (biometric parameters and umbilical artery [UA] Doppler) were evaluated.

Comparing Two- and Three-dimensional Antral Follicle Count in Patients with Endometriosis.

Background: The purpose of the study was to compare three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound semiautomatic antral follicle count (AFC) with two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound real-time AFC to evaluate patients with deep endometriosis and/or endometrioma submitted to ovarian stimulation (OS).

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study assessing all women with documented diagnosis of deep endometriosis who underwent OS for assisted reproduction treatment. The primary outcome was the difference between AFC by semiautomatic 3D follicle count using 3D volume datasets and 2D ultrasound count with the number of oocytes retrieved at the end of the cycle.

Congenital High Airway Obstruction Syndrome (CHAOS): Virtual Navigation in the Fetal Airways After Intrauterine Endoscopic Treatment.

Background: Congenital high airway obstruction syndrome (CHAOS) involves the partial or complete obstruction of the fetal upper airways, usually caused by atresia or stenosis of the larynx or trachea. The obstruction of bronchial tree leads to lung distension, diaphragmatic eversion, and cardiac dysfunction, which can result in fetal death.

Case: A primigravid 19-year-old was diagnosed with CHAOS at 19 weeks gestation.

Virtual navigation for the improvement of parents counseling and the planning of fetal endoscopic myelomeningocele repair.

Background: Myelomeningocele (MMC) is the most severe form of spina bifida with intrauterine repairs becoming more prevalent. The development of three-dimensional ultrasound (3DUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has drastically improved the visualization of fetal anatomy.

Methods: Virtual Navigation (VN) results from a technology that uses software generated realistic images to replicate the immersive feeling of a real environment.

Assessment of Fetal Lung Maturity Using Quantitative Ultrasound Analysis in Patients with Prelabor Rupture of Membranes.

Introduction: Prelabor rupture of membranes (PROM) is a frequent clinical situation, and the decision about the best time for delivery remains controversial, mainly due to the risk of neonatal respiratory morbidity (NRM). Assessment of fetal lung maturity using ultrasound, a safe method and widely used in current obstetrical practice, could change this scenario. This study was designed to evaluate the ability of quantitative ultrasound method QuantusFLM® to predict NRM in patients with PROM and whether maternal BMI, gestational age, occurrence of the disease, and presence of oligohydramnios influenced the performance.

Behavior of fetal longitudinal myocardial fibers assessed by speckle tracking to obtain strain and strain rate values for low-risk pregnancies.

Objective To analyze the behavior of fetal longitudinal myocardial fibers assessed by speckle tracking (STE) after fetal viability. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed in 156 women with normal singleton pregnancies from 22 to 31 weeks of gestation. Strain (S) and strain rate (SR) values were measured in both ventricles during the fetal cardiac cycle.

Predictors of perinatal outcome in early-onset fetal growth restriction: A study from an emerging economy country.

Objective: To identify antenatal predictors of adverse perinatal outcomes in a population of preterm fetuses with early placental insufficiency diagnosed by Doppler abnormalities.

Method: In this cross-sectional study of a cohort of singleton pregnant women diagnosed with early placental insufficiency, relationships between perinatal variables (arterial and venous Doppler, gestational age, birth weight, oligohydramnios, estimated fetal weight, and fetal weight z-scores) and major neonatal complications were analyzed by logistic regression.

Results: Two hundred sixty-five women were delivered, between 24 and 33 weeks gestation.

3-D Virtual Reconstruction of a Large Amniocele With Protrusion of Legs and Umbilical Cord Following Asymptomatic Uterine Rupture.

Background: Complete uterine rupture is a rare and severe intrapartum complication with high rates of maternal and fetal mortality. Asymptomatic uterine rupture is a very rare condition with one unique previous case described in the literature. Three-dimensional virtual models allow an immersive virtual reality of maternal-fetal structures with better understanding by the parents and the medical team.

Controversial ultrasound findings in mid trimester pregnancy. Evidence based approach.

Mid trimester fetal anatomy scan is a fundamental part of routine antenatal care. Some U/S soft markers or controversial U/S signs are seen during the scan and create some confusion regarding their relation to fetal chromosomal abnormalities. Example of these signs: echogenic focus in the heart, echogenic bowel, renal pyelectasis, ventriculomegaly, polydactely, club foot, choroid plexus cyst, single umbilical artery.

Ultrasound in Africa: what can really be done?

Today we are living in a globalized world in which information on what is happening in one part of the world is easily communicated to other parts of the world. This happens thanks to advancement in science and technology. One area where technology has made the greatest impact is heath care provision.

3D/4D sonography - any safety problem.

Gray-scale image data are processed in 3D ultrasound by repeated scans of multiple planes within a few seconds to achieve one surface rendering image and three perpendicular plane images. The 4D image is achieved by repeating 3D images in short intervals, i.e.

Neonatal outcome in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) between 18 and 26 weeks.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify adverse neonatal outcomes and identifies the predictors of adverse neonatal outcomes in premature rupture of membranes before 26 weeks.

Methods: Data were collected between January 2005 and December 2011 from all pregnant women who presented preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) between 18 and 26 complete weeks of gestation and were admitted to one of three Brazilian institutes. The adverse outcomes included mortality or the development of a severe morbidity during the length of stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

3D ultrasonography to evaluate fetal urinary production rates in twin gestation: construction of a normal value curve.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess fetal urinary production rates (FUPR) in twin gestations using 3D ultrasonography with VOCAL® (virtual organ computer-aided analysis) and to develop a curve of normal values for the target population.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 30 normal twin pregnancies with gestational ages ranging from 20 to 34 weeks. FUPR was measured using a three-dimensional ultrasound (3D US) virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL) system.

Changes in ophthalmic artery Doppler indices in hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.

Objectives: To compare the ophthalmic artery Doppler indices observed in women with singleton pregnancies complicated by hypertension and to correlate the indices observed in hypertensive pregnant women with those observed in healthy pregnant women.

Methods: Ophthalmic artery Doppler indices were compared between 30 women with mild preeclampsia, 30 women with severe preeclampsia, and 30 women with chronic hypertension at 20 to 40 weeks' gestation. The control group consisted of 289 normotensive pregnant women.

Doppler velocimetry of ductus venous in preterm fetuses with brain sparing effect: neonatal outcome.

Objective: to evaluate the relationship between ductus venous (DV) and Doppler velocimetry in neonatal outcome in severe compromised preterm fetuses.

Methods: the study was designed as an observational and cross-sectional study with 52 premature neonates with brain sparing effect. The criteria of neonatal severe morbidity were: severe intraventricular hemorrhage (grades 3 or 4), retinopathy of prematurity (grade 3 or 4), cystic periventricular leukomalatia, bronchopneumo dysplasia and neonatal mortality.

Normal range for fetal urine production rate customized by biometry.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a nomogram for fetal urine production (UPR) using biometric parameters.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 110 normal singleton fetuses with gestational ages ranging from 20 to 40 weeks. UPR was measured using tridimensional ultrasound (3-DUS) virtual organ computer-aided analysis.

Doppler velocimetry of the ophthalmic artery: reproducibility of blood flow velocity measurements.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the interobserver reliability for measuring ophthalmic artery Doppler indices.

Methods: Healthy women (n = 30) were evaluated. The resistive index, pulsatility index, and peak ratio were determined by two independent observers who were blind to each other.