Ductus Venosus
Fetal Doppler
- The Ductus Venosus (DV) is a fetal vessel that bypasses the liver & shunts blood from the umbilical vein directly to the heart
- The DV waveform can indicate fetal cardiac health
- A normal DV waveform should be continous antegrade flow throughout the cycle
- Any flow reversal (below the baseline) considered abnormal
Middle Cerebral Artery
Fetal Doppler
- The Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) in the anterior aspect of the fetal brain can be insonated to from the anterior lateral window
- Indications: IUGR, to rule out fetal anemia, and TTTS
- Normal MCA waveform has a higher resistance waveform
- Abnormal MCA waveform can be low resistence with increased flow throughout diastole, or flow reversal during diastole
Umbilical Artery
Fetal Doppler
- The Umbilical Artery (UA) Doppler is utilized to help determine fetal well-being and placental insufficiency
- Indications: IUGR, to rule out TTTS
- The normal UA waveform should have a low resistive index with continous forward flow thourhgout the cycle
- Abnormal UA waveforms can have a high resistive index with decreased diastolic flow, or flow reversal during diastole