A novel method of global volumetric fetal perfusion measurement–spatially angle corrected PixelFlux measurement of the umbilical vein

Purpose: A sufficient fetal perfusion is the prerequisite for a normal fetal development and is therefore a crucial parameter in fetal evaluation.Today arterial resistance measurements of umbilical artery blood flow are used. This method has substantial methodological as well as clinical limitations. It allows no real flow volume estimation and is susceptible to misconclusions.

Patients and methods: We deveolped a novel spatially angle corrected technique for real global fetal volume flow measurement in the umbilical vein based on the PixelFlux – method (www.chameleon-software.de) from 3D-color Doppler ultrasound datasets of the umbilical cord. In 57 fetuses from normal pregancies we correlated fetal volme perfusion with the estimated fetal weight and gestational age

Results: We could demonstrate a highly significant correlation of sonografically measured fetal perfusion with gestational age and estimated fetal weight.

Conclusion: Our new method of volumetric global fetal perfusion evaluation by spatially angle corrected PixelFlux-measurements of the umbilical vein can be recommended for the detection of perfusion disturbances in the materno-fetal circulation. Further studies are necessary to confirm our first results and to plumb the method’s entire potential. The method is fetus-friendly, quick (3 min) and cheap. It can be used in an outpatient setting and offers a novel aproach to fetal monitoring.

Literature:

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PixelFlux - fetal perfusion - spatial angle correction - volumetric blood flow measurement