FETAL AND UTEROPLACENTAL FLOW VELOCITY WAVE-FORMS IN ABRUPTIO-PLACENTAE - REPORT OF 2 CASES

This paper reports two cases of abruptio placentae assessed using puls ed Doppler at 29 and 30 weeks of gestation. Transvaginal pulsed Dopple r showed abnormal uterine artery FVWs in both cases. One fetus with no rmal umbilical and normal middle cerebral artery FVWs was not acidotic and only mildly hypoxic, whereas the other fetus with normal umbilica l and abnormal middle cerebral artery FVWs was severely acidotic and h ypoxic at birth. It is suggested that Doppler assessment of fetal bloo d distribution is of great value for the rapid diagnosis of fetal asph yxia, and that uteroplacental FVWs provide reliable information on whi ch to base the diagnosis of abruptio placentae.