MATERNAL RIGHT HYPOGASTRIC ARTERY BLOOD-FLOW DURING NORMAL-PREGNANCY AND 6 WEEKS POSTPARTUM

OBJECTIVE: To document and quantify the temporal hemodynamic changes o ccurring in the pelvic circulation in normal human pregnancy, and to c ompare these changes with those found 6 weeks postpartum. METHODS: Thi rty-three patients had color pulsed Doppler evaluation of the right hy pogastric artery six times during pregnancy and once 6 weeks postpartu m. Pulsed Doppler waveforms were digitized to assess the time velocity integral (area under the Doppler curve = TVI) and the peak flow veloc ity (maximum velocity = PFV). The diameter of the vessel was determine d during systole using high-resolution two-dimensional ultrasound from a longitudinal plane. A quantitative estimate of the blood flow throu gh this vessel was calculated by multiplying the TVI by the calculated cross-sectional area of the vessel. RESULTS: The cross-sectional area and the indexed volume of blood flow per minute of the hypogastric ar tery were significantly greater during pregnancy compared with the pos tpartum value. The estimated vascular resistance index was significant ly decreased during pregnancy. Time velocity integral was significantl y lower at the initial study compared with the postpartum value. CONCL USION: The hypogastric artery undergoes significant hemodynamic change s during pregnancy when compared to the postpartum period. Furthermore , the pelvic circulation displays these changes early in gestation.