Dopplerometry - Causes, symptoms and treatment. MF.
Doppler Meter is an ultrasound method that measures the speed of blood flow in the vessels of the uterus, umbilical cord and fetus. In obstetric practice it is used only the last 10 years.
Discovered by the scientist Doppler in 1842, the physical effect is now successfully used in medicine to measure the rate of blood flow by means of an ultrasonic wave. This method allows you to assess the speed and quality of blood flow in the vessels of the uterus, umbilical cord and fetus. A normal blood flow means that the baby gets enough nutrition and is reliably protected from outside influences. As a result, it normally grows and develops. With the improvement of diagnostic ultrasound equipment, it became possible to evaluate the blood flow in most fetal vessels. Modern, progressive devices use the pulse mode of operation, which allows you to record the blood flow in the smallest vessels of the fetus and the chambers of its heart, as well as in the uterine arteries.
In what cases can Doppler can help?
Uterine arteries
It is known that in the early stages of pregnancy, as a rule, such a serious complication of pregnancy as gestosis( high blood pressure, swelling, protein in the urine) does not develop. And this is evidenced by normal blood flow in the uterine arteries. However, if the dopplerometry data confirm the risk of gestosis, the woman is advised to carefully observe the water-salt regime in advance( consumption of salt is reduced to a minimum, the amount of liquid drunk per day should not exceed 1.5 liters, the nutritional diet includes foods rich in animal protein: meat, fish, poultry, egg, cottage cheese).In addition, the future mother is advised not to overwork, to sleep more, to avoid stressful situations. If necessary, the doctor can prescribe medication.
It is very important to control blood flow in the uterine arteries if a woman suffers from such chronic diseases as hypertension, diabetes, rheumatism, blood clotting system diseases, when the vessels of her whole body initially insufficiently strong. It is important to understand that a decrease in the "nutrition" of the uterus gradually leads to a "starvation" of the child. A Doppler can help to understand the mechanism of such disorders and choose a targeted treatment.
In case of threat of termination of pregnancy, when the uterus starts prematurely often contracting, and the vessels passing through it are pinched, the blood flow in the uterine arteries suffers. The Dopplerometry session helps to anticipate the negative development of events. Gentle regimen, soothing and spasmolytic therapy allow you to quickly restore the body to a pregnant balance.
Cord arteries
The umbilical cord is the only way that the growing fetus gets the most essential for life. This is important to know and control. The most common cause of changes in blood flow in the umbilical cord is placental disease. Among them, inflammatory changes in the background of microbial and viral infections, placental edema, caused by Rh rhesus-conflict between mother and baby, diabetes maternal, congenital features of the placenta and abnormalities of the umbilical cord. If there are changes in blood flow in the umbilical cord, the tactics of the doctor depends on the condition of the fetus. If its dimensions correspond to the term of pregnancy, the doctor understands that the detected changes appeared recently and there is an opportunity to fix everything. Usually, in such a situation, a preventive course of treatment is prescribed, the purpose of which is to improve the functions of the placenta cells( actovegin), restore blood microcirculation( trental, quarantil, aspirin, hofitol).If the fetal biometry reveals the asymmetry of the dimensions( head, tummy, thigh length) or the discrepancy of these sizes with the term of pregnancy, then more intensive treatment is needed, which is better performed in a hospital by intravenous drip of the necessary medications.
Fetal vessels
Changes in blood flow in these vessels occur only after a short time after a violation of the blood supply in the artery of the umbilical cord and most often indicate hypoxia. Hypoxia means a lack of oxygen in cells of tissues, which is transported to cells by blood. Oxygen is an important element in which a "correct" metabolism takes place in the cell. If oxygen is not enough, the chemical reactions in the cell do not go "to the end," and the energy necessary for the growth and functioning of tissues is not enough. This situation requires intensive treatment in a hospital.