REVERSE END-DIASTOLIC FLOW IN THE MIDDLE CEREBRAL-ARTERY - AN AGONAL PATTERN IN THE HUMAN FETUS

Serial Doppler ultrasonography in a severely growth-restricted fetus r evealed progressive reduction in pulsatility index of the middle cereb ral artery, consistent with brain-sparing effect. At 29 weeks, 1 week before fetal death, the pulsatility index in the middle cerebral arter y returned to normal values and became reversed the day before fetal d eath. This report suggests that reverse flow in the middle cerebral ar tery is one of the terminal hemodynamic events preceding fetal death.