DOPPLER-SONOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENT OF FETAL VESSELS - EVALUATION OF A NEW GRAPHICALLY COMBINED ANALYSIS

The dopplersonographic data of 1926 pregnant women in the 3. trimester of pregnancy was used to evaluate a graphic system for the analysis o f A/B-ratio in fetal vessels (pulsed wave duplex system; descending ao rta and umbilical arteries). The basis of the newly developed combinat ion diagram were dopplersonographic standard values (single cut off an d pregnancy duration related percentiles). One of the results was the fact, that the combined measurement and analysis of both fetal vessels increased the positive predictive value compared to single measuremen ts. The value of dopplersonographic examinations in the aorta was slig htly better than those in the umbilical arteries. The combined diagram showed a marked improvement in graphicness, especially in follow-up c ases, and a partial improvement in statistical values.