Diagnostic Performance of Doppler Ultrasonography for the Detection of Fetal Anemia: A Meta-analysis

Fetal Splenic Artery Pulsatility Index May Predict the Need for Neonatal Intensive Care in Gestational Diabetes Class A1 Cases

The fetal splenic artery pulsatility index is a parameter that reflects fetal well-being and has been used as a predictor of adverse pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of the splenic artery pulsatility index in gestational diabetes mellitus class A1 cases for intensive care unit admission. In this prospective case-controlled study, only sixty single pregnancy cases diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus class A1 were evaluated. Fetal splenic artery Doppler parameters such as peak systolic velocity, pulsatility index, resistivity index, and end-diastolic velocity were measured in all cases. The rate of requirements for the neonatal intensive care unit was noted. In cases requiring fetal intensive care, the fetal splenic pulsatility index was found to be statistically significantly lower than in healthy cases without it (0.94 ± 0.29 vs. 1.70 ± 0.53, respectively, p < 0.001, Student's t-test). When the fetal splenic PI cutoff value was selected as 1.105 cm3, the sensitivity was calculated as 97.9% and the specificity as 58.3% for predicting the need for fetal intensive care (AUC 0.968, p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.929-0.998). The use of a low fetal splenic artery PI parameter is a significant and good indicator for predicting the need for fetal intensive care according to the binary logistic regression analysis result (p = 0.006). This study suggests that evaluation of fetal splenic artery Doppler in mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus may be used to predict neonates requiring a newborn intensive care unit. Therefore, it is recommended that obstetricians use this simple, rapid, and valuable evaluation of fetal splenic artery Doppler and alert the neonatologist that a newborn intensive care unit may be required.

Assessment of Amniotic Fluid Volume in Pregnancy

Amniotic fluid (AF) is an integral part of the fetal environment and is essential for fetal growth and development. Pathways of AF recirculation include the fetal lungs, swallowing, absorption through the fetal gastrointestinal tract, excretion through fetal urine production, and movement. In addition to being a marker for fetal health, adequate AF is necessary for fetal lung development, growth, and movement. The role of diagnostic imaging is to provide a detailed fetal survey, placental evaluation, and clinical correlation with maternal conditions to help identify causes of AF abnormalities and thereby enable specific therapy. Oligohydramnios prompts evaluation for fetal growth restriction as well as genitourinary issues, including renal agenesis, multicystic dysplastic kidneys, ureteropelvic junction obstruction, and bladder outlet obstruction. Premature preterm rupture of membranes should also be clinically excluded as a cause of oligohydramnios. Clinical trials evaluating amnioinfusion are underway as a potential intervention for renal causes of oligohydramnios. Most cases of polyhydramnios are idiopathic, with maternal diabetes being a common cause. Polyhydramnios prompts evaluation for fetal gastrointestinal obstruction and oropharyngeal or thoracic masses, as well as neurologic or musculoskeletal anomalies. Amnioreduction is performed only for maternal indications such as symptomatic polyhydramnios causing maternal respiratory distress. Polyhydramnios with fetal growth restriction is paradoxical and can occur with maternal diabetes and hypertension. When these maternal conditions are absent, this raises concern for aneuploidy. The authors describe the pathways of AF production and circulation, US and MRI assessment of AF, disease-specific disruption of AF pathways, and an algorithmic approach to AF abnormalities. ^©RSNA, 2023 Online supplemental material is available for this article. Quiz questions for this article are available through the Online Learning Center.

Fetal cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging

Fetal cardiovascular MRI is showing promise as a clinical diagnostic tool in the setting of congenital heart disease when the cardiac anatomy is unresolved by US or when complementary quantitative data on blood flow, oxygen saturation and hematocrit are required to aid in management. Compared with postnatal cardiovascular MRI, prenatal cardiovascular MRI still has some technical limitations. However, ongoing technical advances continue to improve the robustness and usability of fetal cardiovascular MRI. In this review, we provide an overview of the state of the art of fetal cardiovascular MRI and summarize the current focus of clinical application for this versatile technique.

Current Resources for Evidence-Based Practice, November 2020

An extensive review of new resources to support the provision of evidence-based care for women and infants. The current column includes a discussion of diversity in the maternity care workforce and commentaries on reviews focused on burnout in midwifery and a cross-national comparison of guidelines for uncomplicated childbirth.