[Improvement of Doppler ultrasonography findings following transcutaneous electrostimulation in women with placental insufficiency]

Previous perinatal trials using Doppler ultrasound have demonstrated a favorable correlation between abnormal blood flow spectra and feto-maternal problems. 33 patients with manifest placental unsufficiency were subject to daily transcutaneous nerve stimulation in a 2-week therapeutic course. 23 patients of the control group were treated by bed rest over 2 weeks. The patient group with transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TNS) showed significant improvement of the investigated blood flow parameters (A/B ratio) of the umbilical artery and fetal aorta (p less than 0.01). In the placebo group there were no significant alterations of blood flow parameters. The clinical findings (improved flow parameters and perinatal outcome) are not expected to yield any significant improvement when placental insufficiency is treated with bed rest alone.