Supervisors info:
Ιατράκης Γεώργιος, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Μαιευτικής, Πανεπιστήμιο Δυτικής Αττικής
Λυκερίδου Αικατερίνη, Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Μαιευτικής, Πανεπιστήμιο Δυτικής Αττικής
Ζερβούδης Στέφανος, Αν. Καθηγητής, Montpellier-Nimes
Summary:
Aim: After observation of the practice to recommend Doppler ultrasound in the third trimester as a routine examination in normal pregnancy, the aim of this study is to prove, if the reason why they are mentioned is because Greek obstetricians ‘‘stand on the defensive’’ or because they gain some profit.
Material & Method: The criteria of election is nulliparous Greek pregnant women, which conceive naturally. The data supervene by the Doppler ultrasounds in combination with the woman’s medical history and the previous two ultrasounds (nuchal translucency, analytical second-trimester ultrasound) performed in private fetal medicine office.
Results: The final number of the participants was 80 from 89 pregnant women and the mean age was 31,7 years (SD 4,14). In four embryos, which the estimated fetal weight was under the 10th percentile in the third trimester Doppler ultrasound, a second Doppler ultrasound was recommended. The results show that the percentile was higher than the previous measurement and upper from the 10th percentile, as a result these fetuses were not with intrauterine growth restriction. Furthermore, we examine the binary correlation between the age of the pregnant women with me mean PI of the uterine arteries (p-value=0,511, 0,623 και 0,689 for nuchal translucency, analytical second-trimester ultrasound and third-trimester Doppler ultrasound respectively) and BMI of the pregnant women with the same three ultrasounds (p-value=0,121, 0,106 και 0,213 respectively), which both of these correlations were not statistically significant. We also correlate the percentile of the embryos with the holding weeks of the ultrasound and the p-value was 0,005, noticing statistical significance between these two variables and confirming the correct dating of the pregnancy with CRL in the nuchal translucency ultrasound.
Conclusion: Taking into consideration the results of this study, it cannot be proved any benefit through the examination of the embryos with routine Doppler ultrasound in the third trimester in low risk pregnancies. Hence, it is essential to update the guidelines for low-risk and high-risk pregnancies, in order to provide the best care services in Greek pregnant women, taking into consideration the cost-effectiveness.
Keywords:
Routine Doppler ultrasound, Third trimester of pregnancy, Low-risk pregnancy, Normal pregnancy, Intrauterine growth restriction.
