AIM To investigate the relation between gestational age, birth weight, and antenatal corticosteroid administration and the time of ductus venosus closure. METHODS Ninety eight neonates of 30-41 weeks gestational age were studied by daily ultrasonography until ductus venosus closure. RESULTS In neonates of 30-33 weeks gestational age, the ductus venosus closed at 6.0 (2.4)days (mean (SD)); i...

We evaluated the circulation of the liver and ductus venosus, using the radionuclide-labeled mkrosphere technique, in 24 chronically prepared fetal lambs. We placed catheters in fetal descending aorta and inferior vena cava, and hi a carotid artery and an umbilical vein; in 11 fetuses, we aho Inserted a catheter hi a mesenteric vein that drained into the portal vein. After allowing 2-4 days for...

OBJECTIVE We aimed to evaluate ductus venosus Doppler waveforms before and after amniocentesis in order to investigate any effect of amniocentesis on fetal myocardial hemodynamics. We also evaluated the umbilical artery, uterine artery and fetal mid-cerebral artery Doppler waveforms in order to investigate any relationship with ductus venosus Doppler changes. METHODS The study population cons...

Although recognized since Vesalius as one of the distinguishing features of the foetal circulation, the precise function of the ductus venosus is uncertain. Anatomically, it provides a direct connexion between the umbilical vein and the inferior vena cava. Functionally, it represents a bypass through which part of the oxygenated umbilical blood flows directly into the inferior vena cava. Howeve...

Autonomic regulation of blood flow through the fetal ductus venosus has been suggested, but the existence of a sphincter at the ductal entrance in human fetuses has yet to be established. In this paper two cases of apparent ductus venosus dilatation in two growth-restricted human fetuses are reported. Prolonged ultrasonographic analysis (45 min) showed rapid and substantial changes (>80%) of du...

Objective We sought to assess blood fl ow in relation to jugular lymphatic distension in fetuses with increased and normal nuchal translucency (NT). Study design In all, 72 fetuses with normal NT and 71 fetuses with NT > 95th percentile were evaluated. NTsize, jugular lymphatic sacs (JLS), jugular vein and ductus venosus pulsatility index for veins (PIV), and intracardiac velocities were measur...

OBJECTIVE To assess a possible relationship between ductus venosus blood flow abnormalities and cardiac defects in chromosomally normal fetuses with increased nuchal translucency thickness at 10-14 weeks of gestation. METHODS Ductus venosus Doppler ultrasound blood flow velocity waveforms were obtained at 10-14 weeks' gestation immediately before fetal karyotyping in 200 consecutive singleton...

OBJECTIVES To investigate the performance of first-trimester screening for aneuploidies by including assessment of ductus venosus flow in the combined test of maternal age, fetal nuchal translucency thickness, fetal heart rate, and serum free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A. METHODS Screening by the combined test was performed in singleton pregnanci...

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate ductus venosus fl ow velocities and a possible relationship with the type of cardiac defect in fetuses with increased nuchal translucency (NT). Methods Seventy-two fetuses with normal NT and 137 fetuses with increased NT (>95th percentile) were evaluated. The ductus venosus pulsatility index for veins (PIV), late diastolic velocity (velocity d...