Cardiac and extra-cardiac flow velocity waveforms in the growth-retarded human fetus

Abstract

The central theme in this thesis is the documentation of Doppler flow velocity waveforms in a number of cardiac and extra-cardiac arterial vessels with emphasis on changes in the flow velocity waveforms relative to intrauterine growth retardation and fetal and neonatal condition. The following questions were addressed: 1) What is the reproducibility of flow velocity waveform recording in the fetal cardiac outflow tract (ascending aorta, pulmonary artery, ductus arteriosus); (Chapter 3); 2) Do flow velocity waveforms from the fetal cardiac outflow tract depict changes in the presence of intrauterine growth retardation. If so, how do these changes relate to changes in flow velocity waveforms from the umbilical artery; (Chapter 4); 3) How do fetal cardiac and extra-cardiac flow velocity waveforms relate to (i) fetal heart rate patterns in predicting fetal distress and (ii) neonatal outcome in intrauterine growth retardation; (Chapter 5)