Normal Foetal Middle Cerebral Arteries Doppler Velocimetry; Study from Benin-city

Abstract

Doppler assessment of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) is one method of evaluating foetus before delivery and can determine foetuses at risk in high risk pregnancies. This study was done to determine the normal reference values of foetal middle cerebral artery Doppler indices in our population. One hundred and forty eight women with uncomplicated pregnancies were voluntarily recruited and had MCA Doppler study. Pulsatility index (PI), Resistivity index (RI), Systolic/Diastolic ratio (S/D ratio), Peak systolic velocity (PSV), End diastolic velocity (EDV) and Mean velocity (MeanV) values were documented for all subjects. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 16. The mean value of foetal middle cerebral artery PSV was 40.1cm/s, EDV 11.97cm/s, MeanV 25.0cm/s, RI 0.70, PI 1.14, and S/D ratio 4.05. PSV, EDV and MeanV increased with gestational age such that they were higher in 3rd trimester than 2nd trimester. RI, PI and S/D ratio showed an initial increase but decreased in the 3rd trimester. A normogram of foetal middle cerebral artery Doppler parameters has been documented for our population by this study.

Keywords: Foetal middle cerebral artery, Doppler velocimetry, normal Doppler indices, middle cerebral artery Doppler, foetal Doppler.