American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 200, Issue 4 , Pages 397.e1-397.e3, April 2009

Angle correction can be used to measure peak systolic velocity in the fetal middle cerebral artery

  • Michael S. Ruma, MD, MPH

      Affiliations

    • Perinatal Associates of New Mexico, Ltd, Albuquerque, NM
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprints: Michael S. Ruma, MD, MPH, Perinatal Associates of New Mexico, Ltd, 201 Cedar SE, Suite 405, Albuquerque, NM 87106
    • ,
  • Anthony E. Swartz, RT(R), RDMS

      Affiliations

    • WakeMed Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Raleigh, NC
    • ,
  • Eunhee Kim

      Affiliations

    • Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
    • ,
  • Amy H. Herring, ScD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
    • Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
    • ,
  • M. Kathryn Menard, MD, MPH

      Affiliations

    • Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
    • ,
  • Kenneth J. Moise Jr, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, and the Texas Children's Fetal Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX

Received 20 June 2008; received in revised form 1 October 2008; accepted 5 November 2008.

Objective

The objective of the study was to compare Doppler ultrasound measurements of the fetal middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity (MCA-PSV) obtained at a 0° angle of insonation to assessment at 30° and 30° with angle correction.

Study Design

Patients between 14 and 36 weeks' gestation were enrolled (n = 66). MCA-PSV measurements were assessed at 0°, 30°, and 30° with angle correction. The data were analyzed using a mixed model adjusted for gestational age. Pairwise comparisons of mean MCA-PSV measurements were made using the Tukey multiple comparison test.

Results

All measurements were obtained for 50 fetuses (76%). Mean MCA-PSV measurements were statistically different between 0° vs 30° (P = .03 to < .001) but not between 0° vs 30° with angle correction (P = .34-.99) at each of the 5 gestational age groupings.

Conclusion

Assessment of the MCA-PSV at 0° and 30° with angle correction provides comparable measurements during the second and third trimester of pregnancy.

Key words: angle correction, Doppler ultrasound, fetus, middle cerebral artery, peak systolic velocity

 

 This study was supported in part by the Bowes/Cefalo Young Researcher Award-Center for Maternal and Infant Health, University of North Carolina, and the Medical Alumni Endowment Fund, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.

 Cite this article as: Ruma MS, Swartz AE, Kim E, et al. Angle correction can be used to measure peak systolic velocity in the fetal middle cerebral artery. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009;200:397.e1-397.e3.

PII: S0002-9378(08)02202-3

doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2008.11.002

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 200, Issue 4 , Pages 397.e1-397.e3, April 2009