Role of uterine artery Doppler in prediction of FGR in high risk pregnancies in 20-24 weeks

Background: Accurate prediction of fetal growth retardation (FGR) is a long-sought goal of perinatology as it contributes significantly to perinatal mortality and morbidity. It generally manifest later in pregnancy, their underlying pathophysiology is largely established early in pregnancy. Early detection will help in decreasing the associated morbidity.Methods: The study was carried out on 100 pregnant women of 20-24 weeks gestation in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MGM Medical College and MY Hospital, Indore from March 2015 to February 2016.Presence of diastolic notch in uterine artery waveform was taken as screen positive.Results: Total Diastolic notch positive cases 20/100 out of which 60% developed FGR and 80/100 Diastolic notch negative cases out of which only 4 cases (5%) will developed FGR. The sensitivity of the test was 75% while the specificity was 90.47%. The positive predictive value was 60% while the negative predictive value was 89.74%. 50% of screen positive belonged to 30-39 year age group and 68.75% FGR was seen in primiparous.Conclusions: Study of uterine artery flow velocity waveform seems to be a modern technique which can be used for ruling out the probability of FGR. Presences of diastolic notch in uterine vessels in 2nd trimester are of prognostic value for maternal complications and fetal jeopardy and therefore need of further critical assessment and management.