Publication:

Fetal Doppler for prediction of adverse perinatal outcome in preeclampsia in a low resource setting

Background To assess the usefulness of fetal Doppler in predicting adverse perinatal outcome in preeclampsia.

Methods All the women with preeclampsia from 30 weeks onwards were enrolled in the study. The umblical artery (UA) Systolic-diastolic (S/D) ratio>2standard deviation (SD) or UA-Pulsatility Index (PI) and UA-Resistive Index (RI) >2SD were taken as abnormal. The middle cerebral artery (MCA) was visualized and cerebroumblical PI ratio calculated. MCA-RI 2SD (RR 4.46, 95% CI 1.40-14.17) and RI>2SD (RR 3.36, 95% CI 1.03-10.61) and MCA RI 2SD predicted acute fetal distress in labour (RR 2.33, 95% CI 1.21-4.47), there was no association on multivariate regression analysis.

Conclusions This study showed UA-S/D ratio and UA-RI>2SD are significant predictors of perinatal deaths and immediate neonatal resuscitation in preeclampsia. Acute fetal distress in labour or neonatal nursery admission could not be predicted.