Fetal Venous Doppler Study for Evaluation of Fetuses with Non-Immune Hydrops Fetalis (2025)

Venous Doppler in the Evaluation of Fetal Hydrops

Obstetrics and Gynecology International, 2010

Objective. To examine venous blood flow velocity in different types of fetal hydrops and its value in the prediction of outcome of pregnancies. Methods. Venous Doppler sonography was performed in 100 hydropic fetuses from 15 to 37 weeks of gestation. Blood velocity was recorded in the right hepatic vein (HV), the ductus venosus (DV) and in the intra-abdominal part of the umbilical vein (UV). Blood velocity indices were calculated and pulsations in the umbilical vein noted and grouped into a single, double or triple flow pattern. Blood velocity was related to cause of hydrops. Results. Mortality was noted in 51 cases of which 19 were by termination of pregnancy. Mortality in the 30 with normal venous blood velocity was 35%, but 58% in cases of abnormal Doppler. Abnormal HV and DV blood velocities were recorded in 39 and 34 cases, respectively and were strongly related to mortality (P < .04 and P < .003, resp.). UV pulsations were noted in 49 fetuses and were significantly related to mortality (P < .04). Mortality and abnormal venous velocities were most frequent in the low-output hydrops group (79% and 75%, resp.). Conclusions. Abnormal venous blood velocity is related to mortality in pregnancies complicated by fetal hydrops. Venous Doppler sonography should be a part of the routine work-up of pregnancies complicated by fetal hydrops.

Venous Doppler ultrasonography in the fetus with nonimmune hydrops

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1991

Eighteen pregnancies with non immune hydrops fetalis were referred for fetal echocardiography to rule out congenital heart disease. In 14 of these cases, pulsating blood velocities were recorded in the umbilical vein, which in a normal population had a nonpulsatile blood velocity pattern. The four cases without pulsations in the umbilical vein were found to have intrauterine viral infections. In the last 10 cases examined, the umbilical venous pulsations were found to reflect abnormal central venous pulsations during atrial systole suggesting increased fetal central venous pressure. Right ventricular shortening fraction was significantly decreased in the group with umbilical venous pulsations compared with those without (0.18 versus 0.32, p < 0.05). All the fetuses without venous pulsations survived, but only four of the 14 with pulsations survived (p < 0.05). The results suggest that blood velocity recordings in the umbilical and central veins of the fetus can give valuable clinical information with regard to the presence of fetal congestive heart failure and differentiate between this physiologic state and other causes of non immune hydrops fetalis. This may have implications for fetal diagnostic work-up and prognosis.

Venous Doppler studies in low-output and high-output hydrops fetalis

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2010

The objective of the study was to compare fetal venous Doppler flow reflecting cardiac function in fetuses with hydrops fetalis between a group of congenital heart defect (low cardiac output) and a fetal anemia group (high cardiac output). STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective cross-sectional analysis. It was conducted at the Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, Tertiary center, Medical School. The study included fetuses with hydrops fetalis secondary to cardiac causes (low output group) and anemia (high output group). All fetuses underwent ultrasound examination to assess ductus venosus (DV) and umbilical vein (UV) Doppler indices. The results were related to normal reference range and were also compared between the group of high-output and the low-output group. RESULTS: Sixty-nine hydropic fetuses were available for analysis, 50 in the high-output group and 19 in the low-output group. The peak velocity index, preload index, and the pulsatility index of the DV were significantly low in the high-output group, whereas they were significantly high in the low-output group. The umbilical vein pulsations were found in 78.9% of the fetuses with low-output hydrops fetalis but only 28.0% of fetuses in the high output group (P Ͻ .001). CONCLUSION: New insights gained from this study are that hydrops caused by severe anemia because of hemoglobin Bart's is not associated with high central venous pressures as is seen in hydropic fetuses with coronary heart disease. This suggests that cardiac decompensation is not the primary mechanism of hydrops in these anemic fetuses. Additionally, umbilical vein pulsations are not a sign of cardiac failure in the anemic group.

Fetal hydropsia: challenges in etiologies

Research, Society and Development, 2021

Introduction: Fetal hydrops is defined as the presence of abnormal fluid collections in two or more extravascular fetal compartments and body cavities. There are about 150 different underlying causes known today potentially leading to this fetal alteration. Objective: To analyze the etiologies involved in the occurrence of cases of fetal hydrops. Methods: A systematic literature review was carried out using the MedLine, Pubmed and Scielo databases, from 2015 to 2021, using the expressions: &quot;fetal, hydrop, etiologies.&quot; Discussion: Fetal hydrops is divided into immune and non-immune. Immune results from anemia secondary to erythroblastosis by alloimmunization, so when there is maternal exposure to fetal antigens, it generates an immune response that results in the production of antibodies. History of blood transfusions, previous births, trauma and a history of alloimmunization are characterized as risk factors. Thus, immunoprophylaxis with anti-D immunoglobulin is indicate...

Fetal Doppler: Umbilical Artery, Middle Cerebral Artery, and Venous System

Seminars in Perinatology, 2008

One of the most important applications of Doppler ultrasonography in obstetrics is the detection of fetal anemia in pregnancies complicated by either red-cell alloimmunization or by other causes of fetal anemia. Doppler of the umbilical artery also has prognostic value in pregnancies affected by twin-twin transfusion syndrome undergoing in-utero intervention. Another potential major application is the use of Doppler ultrasound in the management of intrauterine-growth-restricted fetuses. At the present time, there is no single test that appears superior to the other available tests for timing the delivery of the growthrestricted fetus. Therefore, the decision to deliver a fetus, especially at <32 weeks, remains mostly based on empirical management. Doppler may provide a more reliable and systematic basis for timing these deliveries. This review emphasizes the three following concepts: (a) normal and abnormal Doppler of the umbilical artery, middle cerebral artery, mitral and tricuspid valves, umbilical vein, and ductus venosus; (b) some clinical applications of Doppler sonography in obstetrics; and (c) potential future research of Doppler in obstetrics.

Investigation of nonimmune hydrops fetalis

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1984

Fifty pregnancies complicated by fetal ascites and generalized edema are reviewed and their prenatal findings, obstetric management, and fetal outcome are discussed. From the myriad of maternal, fetal, and placental problems which are known to cause nonimmune hydrops fetalis, many different causes of the disorder could be identified in 84% of all patients studied by extensive prenatal and postnatal workup. Therefore, in only 16% of the cases was the nonimmune hydrops fetalis labeled "idiopathic." The most common demonstrable causes of the disorder in this series were cardiac anomalies, followed by chromosomal disorders, congenital malformations, a-thalassemia, and the twin-twin transfusion syndrome. A systematic approach to the prenatal diagnostic workup of nonimmune hydrops fetalis is outlined, starting with the least invasive techniques (ultrasound, echocardiography, complete blood count, Kleihauer-Betke analysis, TORCH testing, and so forth) followed by more invasive techniques (amniocentesis and fetoscopy). Although the detection and prognostic evaluation of nonimmune hydrops fetalis are greatly improved by applying these techniques, the overall prognosis for most fetuses with nonimmune hydrops fetalis is still very poor, and only a few conditions causing the disorder, such as prenatally detected cardiac arrhythmias or selected cases of urinary tract obstruction, are amenable to treatment in utero.

Doppler study of fetal venous system

Non-immune Hydrops Fetalis: Retrospective Evaluation of Pathophysiological Mechanisms

Gazi Medical Journal, 2017

Objective: Nonimmune hydrops fetalis (NIHF) is associated with abnormal fluid collections in fetal soft tissues and serous cavities due to nonimmunologic causes. It should be considered as a symptom, rather than a disorder. We aimed to investigate etiology and pathophysiology in cases with NIHF during a four-year time period. Methods: Eleven live-born infants with NIHF were evaluated retrospectively. Demographic data, laboratory values, and results of specified tests were recorded. Etiology and pathophysiological mechanisms were established. Results: The mean gestational age at birth was 32.8±2.6 weeks and the mean birth weight was 2545±809 grams. All cases presented with edema and ascites. Chromosomal disorders (5/11) were the leading etiology. Pathophysiological mechanisms were observed as fetal hypotonia, fetal hypoxia, lymphatic disorders, hypoalbuminemia, early closure of ductus arteriosus, anemia, and right-sided heart failure. Mortality was 72%. Conclusion: In the presented study NIHF occurred as a symptom which was presented in various conditions based on different mechanisms. Evaluations made in infants with NIHF should aim both diagnosis of the condition as well as finding out the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Mortality rate in infants with NIHF is high even though the improvements in neonatal care.

Non-immune hydrops fetalis The last ten years, the next ten years in Neonatology

2014

Non-immune hydrops fetalis (NIHF) refers to hydrops in the absence of maternal circulating red-cell antibodies, and constitutes up to 90% of all described hydrops fetalis cases. One-third of hydropic fetuses are discovered incidentally during prenatal sonography in the first or second trimester of gestation. Although hydrops is a fetal condition, in many cases there are associated maternal findings, such as preeclampsia, polyhydramnios, and mirror syndrome (generalized maternal edema, that &#39;mirrors&#39; the edema of the hydropic fetus and placenta). NIHF should be seen as a symptom or clinical phenotype rather than as a disorder, and considered as a non-specific, end-stage status of a wide variety of disorders. Numerous disorders including fetal disorders, maternal diseases (e.g., severe maternal anemia, diabetes and maternal indomethacin use) and placental/cord abnormalities have been associated with NIHF. Despite extensive investigations, the etiology on NIHF may remain unknow...

The assessment of fetal well-being by venous Doppler velocimetry

The Ultrasound Review of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2004

The assessment of fetal well-being by venous Doppler velocimetry, especially in cases of intrauterine growth restriction, has been growing in importance as a number of researchers have been improving their studies 1-5 as well as a consequence of better technologies in ultrasound equipment. Since different authors have studied the fetal blood circulation with color Doppler, initially focusing their attention on the arterial system 6-12 , many questions and doubts have remained without a reasonable answer, especially concerning the optimal time at which to deliver these fetuses. Among these authors, some have expressed the opinion that all biophysical methods, including the cardiotocogram, should be used before the decision of fetus delivery should be made 13,14. It is possible, nowadays, to study several venous vessels, such as the ductus venosus, inferior vena cava, umbilical vein, portal vein, hepatic veins 15 , and, more recently 1,2 , the cerebral transverse sinus. The purpose of this review is to describe the fetal circulation, the technique and rationale behind measuring venous Dopplers and to assess the clinical applications of venous Doppler velocimetry. Venous Doppler velocimetry and fetal well-being Prado Vasques et al.