DOPPLER STUDIES OF THE PLACENTAL AND FETAL CIRCULATION IN PREGNANCIESWITH PRETERM PRELABOR AMNIORRHEXIS

This study has investigated the effect of intrauterine infection on pl acental perfusion, fetal circulation and fetal oxygenation in patients with preterm prelabor amniorrhexis. In 69 pregnancies with preterm pr elabor amniorrhexis, Doppler ultrasound studies of the uterine and umb ilical arteries and the fetal middle cerebral artery and thoracic aort a were performed. Within 1 h after the Doppler studies, cordocentesis and amniocentesis were carried out for microbiological investigations and measurement of blood pO2 and pH. In the amniorrhexis group, there were no significant differences from the appropriate normal mean for g estation in any of the Doppler indices or blood gas results. Furthermo re, there were no significant differences between the groups with posi tive fetal blood or amniotic fluid cultures and those with no evidence of infection. These data demonstrate that, in preterm prelabor amnior rhexis, microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity and fetal bacteremia are not associated with detectable changes in placental perfusion, fe tal circulation or fetal oxygenation.