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VOLUME 5 , ISSUE 2 ( April-June, 2011 ) > List of Articles

REVIEW ARTICLE

Ductus Venosus: A Love Story of 14 Years

Nuno Montenegro, Alexandra Matias

Keywords : Ductus venosus,Doppler blood flow,Chromosomal abnormalities,Cardiac defects,Pregnancy loss,Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome

Citation Information : Montenegro N, Matias A. Ductus Venosus: A Love Story of 14 Years. Donald School J Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2011; 5 (2):141-149.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10009-1190

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 01-03-2012

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2011; The Author(s).


Abstract

Ductus venosus is a tiny vessel with a central role in fetal circulation. Combining B-mode with color and pulsed Doppler is feasible to identify this vessel and evaluate the blood flow waveform at 11 to 13 weeks. The higher prevalence of abnormal A-wave in fetuses with abnormal karyotype and/or cardiac defects turned DV evaluation into a useful marker for chromosomal abnormalities and cardiopathies. Even when combined with nuchal translucency (NT) or biochemical markers, DV blood flow evaluation contributes to an increase in sensitivity and reduces false-positive rate. Abnormal ductal flow is also related to a worse fetal and perinatal outcome. In monochorionic twin pregnancies, in addition to NT measurement at 11 to 14 weeks, the Doppler assessment of DV blood flow increases relevantly the performance of screening for those at higher risk of developing twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. This story of 14 years surely contributed to change the way first trimester screening is being implemented.

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