PRENATAL ULTRASONOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF THE DUCTUS VENOSUS - A REVIEW

Objective: To review current data pertaining to prenatal ultrasonograp hy of the ductus venosus. Data Sources: We identified English-language studies regarding prenatal ultrasonography and the fetal ductus venos us. The studies were obtained from a MEDLINE search for the period 196 6 through March 1996. Additional sources were identified through cross -referencing. Methods of Study Selection: We reviewed all published re ports, case studies, and articles regarding ultrasonographic morpholog y, physiology, and pathophysiology of the fetal ductus venosus. Tabula tion, Integration, and Results: Knowledge of the function of the fetal ductus venosus in both normal and abnormal fetal conditions is increa sed by prenatal ultrasonographic data. Altered ductus venosus hemodyna mics may be noted in various medical conditions that include fetal gro wth restriction, twin-twin transfusion, invasive diagnostic procedures (chorionic villus sampling and fetal blood sampling), fetal anemia an d transfusion, complex cardiac structural anomalies, and cardiac arrhy thmias. Conclusion: blood flow velocity in the fetal ductus venosus re flects the pressure gradient between the umbilical vein and the cardia c atria. Knowledge of pathophysiologic hemodynamic changes of blood no w in this vessel obtainable by prenatal ultrasonography in conjunction with fetal disease may assist diagnosis and management.