BLOOD-FLOW VELOCITY WAVE-FORMS OF THE MID DLE CEREBRAL-ARTERY IN LIVE-BORN FETUSES WITH ABSENT OR REVERSE END-DIASTOLIC FLOW VELOCITIES OF THE UMBILICAL ARTERIES IN RELATION TO THE FETAL-OUTCOME

Absent or reverse enddiastolic flow velocities (AREDFV) of the umbilic al arteries are associated with fetal distress. We studied 74 fetuses with AREDFV with respect to the resistance index of the middle cerebra l artery (MCA). The change in the resistance index of MCA was applied to the fetal outcome. The fetuses were retrospectively divided into 3 groups: 1) The fetuses in the first group did not show any changes in the course of observation of the MCA. 2) In the second group a drop fo llowed by an increase in the resistance index of the MCA was confirmed . This is known in literature as ''cerebral oedema'' 3) The third grou p showed only a drop in the resistance index, described in literature as ''brain-sparing-effect'' The increase in the resistance index of th e MCA points to a danger for the fetus, since the incidence of fetal a cidosis, low birth weight, severe idiopathic respiratory distress synd rome in these fetuses was extremely high. In particular every second f etus in this group showed neurological complications. The change in th e cerebral perfusion known as ''cerebral oedema'' which is extremely d angerous for the fetus has to be avoided.