Kj. Brackley et al., A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY OF MATERNAL BLOODFLOW IN NORMAL-PREGNANCY AND THE PUERPERIUM - ANALYSIS OF DOPPLER WAVE-FORMS USING LAPLACE TRANSFORM TECHNIQUES, British journal of obstetrics and gynaecology, 105(1), 1998, pp. 68-77
Objective To describe changes in the maternal cerebral circulation and
the external iliac arteries throughout pregnancy and the puerperium u
sing the Laplace transform analysis of Doppler waveforms. Design A pro
spective longitudinal study, Setting Department of Obstetrics and Gyna
ecology, Nottingham University Hospital. Sample A cohort of 17 healthy
women studied every four weeks from early pregnancy until term and up
to three months postpartum. Pre-conception data were available for 10
subjects. Methods Doppler signals were recorded from the internal car
otid, middle cerebral and external iliac arteries. The waveforms were
analysed using two different techniques: standard indices (systolic:di
astolic ratio, pulsatility and resistance indices) and Laplace transfo
rm analysis,an alternative method of waveform shape analysis which may
provide additional haemodynamic information. Results Vessel wall tone
decreased at an early stage in pregnancy in the cerebral circulation
and in the external iliac artery, but this rose again following delive
ry. The Laplace transform analysis techniques suggest dramatic eight-f
old increases in downstream resistance within the external iliac arter
y in the second half of pregnancy. An increase in downstream resistanc
e to flow also occurred in the internal carotid artery whereas more st
able conditions were noted in the middle cerebral artery. Conclusions
Having a preliminary idea of the normal ranges for the Laplace transfo
rm analysis variables during pregnancy in a variety of maternal vessel
s, haemodynamic changes in pregnancies complicated by conditions, such
as pre-eclampsia, can now be studied.