Background: Clinical risk assigned antenatally is currently the method used to identify women who should be monitored intensively during the intrapartum period. However, up to 20% of women assigned to be low risk during pregnancy subsequently develop features in labor which make them high risk for adverse perinatal outcomes.
Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic prediction of intrapartum umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry for adverse perinatal outcomes using systematic quantitative overview of the available literature.
Patients and Methods: Our study was a controlled trial performed in populations using umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry (umbilical Doppler). This clinical trial that was conducted at Al-AzharUniversityHospital (BabEl-ShairaiaHospital) and Hurghada General Hospital during the period between January 2020 to June 2020. One hundred primigravidae were admitted for delivery by lower section cesarean section and doppler velocimetry study was then performed on a free-floating loop of the umbilical cord and Doppler indices were calculated.
Results: There was a statistically significant difference between both groups regarding the need for NICU admission and assisted ventilation. In the normal doppler group, 9.1% of fetuses needed NICU admission compared to 73.9% in the abnormal doppler group. Also, only 1.3% of the newborn needed assisted ventilation in the normal doppler group versus 39.1% in the abnormal group.
Conclusion: Umbilical artery doppler indices abnormalities can predict the neonatal outcome. Abnormal umbilical artery doppler was associated with more neonatal complications. Umbilical artery doppler is recommended to be done before delivery.