1. Differentiation between human fetal breathing patterns by investigation of breathing-related tracheal fluid flow velocity using Doppler sonography
- Author
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Klaus D. Wernicke, Rainer Bollmann, Trong Nyghia Nguyen-Dobinsky, Bettina Marcks, Karim D. Kalache, Rabih Chaoui, and Roland R. Wauer
- Subjects
Fetus ,business.industry ,Obstetrics and Gynecology ,Gestational age ,Anatomy ,Doppler sonography ,Fetal movement ,Breathing ,Fluid dynamics ,Medicine ,Gestation ,Expiration ,business ,Genetics (clinical) - Abstract
We report our results from the analysis of Doppler measurements of breathing-related fluid flow velocity waveforms in the trachea in human fetuses. Our aim was to determine whether, using the proposed method, reproducible patterns can be recognized over the latter half of gestation. Breathing-related tracheal fluid flow velocity of 47 normal fetuses at 20-39 weeks' gestation were analysed. Colour Doppler was used to document 'streaming' of fluid in the trachea, followed by spectral Doppler to record flow velocity waveforms. More than 40 (median 94; range 42-725) continuous breathing cycles (inspiration+expiration) were obtained in each case. Although breathing-related fetal tracheal fluid flow waveforms were found to be highly variable, we were able to distinguish by visual analysis between a regular and an irregular pattern. Among the regular patterns, we further differentiate between a regular symmetric (sinusoidal type) and a regular asymmetric (deep inspiration with expiratory flow retardation) pattern. The regular pattern occurred consistently in all age groups studied and there were no significant (p
- Published
- 2000
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