State of the Art: Non-Invasive Ultrasound Assessment of the Uteroplacental Circulation

Urban, Gabriele; Vergani, Patrizia; Ghidini, Alessandro; Tortoli, Piero; Ricci, Stefano; Patrizio, Pasquale; Paidas, Michael J.

doi:10.1053/j.semperi.2007.06.002

« Previous Next »Seminars in Perinatology
Volume 31, Issue 4 , Pages 232-239, August 2007

State of the Art: Non-Invasive Ultrasound Assessment of the Uteroplacental Circulation

Gabriele Urban, MD, PhD
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Milan Bicocca, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.
- Address reprint requests to Gabriele Urban MD, PhD, University of Milan Bicocca, Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics, San Gerardo Hospital, Via Solferino 16, 20052 Monza (MB), Italy.
Patrizia Vergani, MD
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Milan Bicocca, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.
Alessandro Ghidini, MD
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Milan Bicocca, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.
Piero Tortoli, PhD
- Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Stefano Ricci, PhD
- Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Pasquale Patrizio, MD, MBE
- Yale University Fertility Center, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
Michael J. Paidas, MD
- Yale Women and Children’s Center for Blood Disorders, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University, New Haven, CT.

Impaired trophoblastic invasion of the maternal spiral arteries is associated with increased risk for subsequent development of intrauterine growth restriction, preeclampsia, and placental abruption. A series of screening studies involving assessment of impedance to flow in the uterine arteries have examined the potential value of Doppler in identifying pregnancies at risk of the complications of impaired placentation. Currently we are able to characterize uteroplacental perfusion with quantitative and qualitative methodologies. This review will examine both methodologies and seek to highlight conclusive and inconclusive findings.

Keywords: uteroplacental perfusion, Doppler ultrasound, Multigate Spectral Doppler, preeclampsia, growth retarded fetuses, 3-D Power Doppler