Swapna Chouhan, Sudhakar Ajmera, Vijaykumari, Nadeem Ahmed
BACKGROUND Normal foetal growth and development depends on adequate perfusion of the intervillous space through the maternal spiral arterioles. Reduced perfusion is associated with asymmetrical retardation of the foetal growth and foetal hypoxia, which is the major cause of perinatal mortality. The aim of the study is to evaluate the blood flow velocity pattern in uteroplacental and fetoplacental circulations using Doppler ultrasound in PIH cases in our population. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present study comprises of 50 antenatal cases that have been referred from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (CKM Hospital, Warangal) and (GMH Hospital, Hanamkonda). These cases were evaluated in Department of Radiology and Imaging, MGM Hospital with colour Doppler Toshiba machine using 3.5 MHz curvilinear transducer. The period of study was one year. RESULTS In our study, we have taken 50 clinically-suspected PIH cases along with equal number of controls. The highest number of cases in our study is between 21-25 years followed by below 20 years of age. In the study group, 32 (64%) cases show abnormal Doppler and the remaining 18 cases showed normal Doppler. In the control group of same gestational age who does not show any complication, 6 cases (12%) showed abnormal Doppler findings. CONCLUSION We conclude that the Doppler velocimetry is primary tool for fetomaternal surveillance in hypertensive pregnancies, because changes in umbilical and uterine circulation strongly correlate with pregnancy outcome. We strongly recommend the use of colour Doppler examination in all cases of PIH.
