FLOW VELOCITY WAVE-FORMS IN THE UTERINE ARTERY IN HIGH-RISK PREGNANCIES

Blood flow velocity investigations by applying Doppler method have eme rged as a useful tool in obstetrics and gynaecology. The final role of the method is still to be established. Thus far, the umbilical artery Doppler indices have been preferred to the utero-placental indices. W e have analysed the Doppler indices from the main branch of uterine ar tery in 280 women with singleton pregnancy in the third trimester. Whi le fetal blood flow velocities in the cerebral arteries or in the umbi lical artery are still unchanged, the increase in the uterine artery r esistance may serve as an early indicator of the increased risk to the fetus.