Correlation of Ultrasound Umbilical Venous Blood Flow in Normal Pregnancy with Gestational Age and Foetal Weight
E. K. Kiridi
Department of Radiology, Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, Bayelsa State, Nigeria and Silhouette Radiodiagnostic Consultants, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
P. C. Oriji *
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
E. G. E. Kiridi
Department of Physiology, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
D. C. Briggs
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
O. Chibundu
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria.
J. U. Ugwoegbu
Department of Radiology, Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
P. Y. Bosrotsi
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Diete Koki Memorial Hospital, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
A. E. Ubom
Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Perinatology, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria and International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), Committee on Childbirth and Postpartum Haemorrhage, United Kingdom.
C. Okechukwu
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
A. O. Addah
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
I. J. Abasi
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
T. O. Adebawojo
Ogun State Primary Health Care Board, Ogun State, Nigeria.
A. D. Adesina
Department of Medical Services, Nigerian Law School, Yenagoa Campus, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria and Oasis Public Health Consulting Ltd., Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Umbilical venous (UV) blood flow is a direct and physiological measurement of vascular placental function.
Objectives: To correlate UV blood flow with gestational age (GA) and foetal weight (FW) in a cohort of normal pregnant Nigerian women.
Materials and Methods: 2,247 women with normal singleton pregnancy between 20 – 40 weeks were included in this study, which was conducted between May 2020 – October 2022, in Bayelsa State, South-South Nigeria. The women had ultrasound assessment of UV blood flow and foetal biometric parameters and weight. Data was analysed using SPSS version 25, associations between categorical variables and between categorical and continuous variables were assessed using chi square and t-test, respectively, with p-value <0.05 considered statistically significant. Correlation analysis was done, and presented in tables and charts.
Results: There was a strong linear correlation between UV blood flow volume and GA (correlation coefficient, ɼ= 0.95; p=0.001), FW (ɼ=0.81; p=0.001), foetal biparietal diameter (BPD) (ɼ=0.88; P=0.001) and abdominal circumference (AC) (ɼ=0.75; P=0.001). Conversely, UV blood flow volume/FW showed a strong inverse relationship with FW (ɼ=- 0.73; p = 0.001), and a weak inverse relationship with GA (ɼ=- 0.36; p = 0.001).
Conclusion: UV blood flow increases with advancing gestation and FW. The increase in UV blood flow in later gestation is however surpassed by the increase in FW, resulting in a reduction in UV blood flow volume per unit FW in the third trimester. The linear increase in UV blood flow volume with foetal BPD and AC suggests that these three parameters could be used in combination to estimate both GA and FW.
Keywords: UV blood flow, gestational age, foetal weight, pregnancy