Ultrasound Doppler: The Game Changer in Fetal Growth Restriction Evaluation and Mode of Delivery

Hema Relwani¹, Reena Wani², Shamaila³ and Siddharth Mitra⁴*

¹Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, HBTMC and Dr. R N Cooper Hospital, Mumbai, India
²Professor and Head, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, HBTMC and Dr. R N Cooper Hospital, Mumbai, India
³DNB Resident, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, HBTMC and Dr. R N Cooper Hospital, Mumbai, India
⁴Intern Doctor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, HBTMC and Dr. R N Cooper Hospital, Mumbai, India

*Corresponding Author: Siddharth Mitra, Intern Doctor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, HBTMC and Dr. R N Cooper Hospital, Mumbai, India.

Received: September 16, 2025; Published: September 28, 2025

Abstract

Background: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is defined as the failure of the fetus to meet its growth potential due to a pathological factor, most commonly placental dysfunction. Worldwide, FGR is a leading cause of stillbirth, neonatal mortality, and short- and long-term morbidity. Our study aims to evaluate the patients with doppler changes and its effect on mode of delivery and neonatal outcome.

Material and Methods: The study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. R. N. Cooper Hospital, Mumbai, included all singleton pregnancies with a gestational age of more than 30 weeks, who presented with fetal growth restriction (FGR) and underwent Doppler ultrasound examination between July 2024 and December 2024. The data was evaluated in terms of maternal demographics, fetal demographics (gestational age), doppler ultrasound findings (umbilical artery, middle cerebral artery), mode of delivery (vaginal, cesarean section) and neonatal outcomes (with respect to, NICU admissions).

Results: Of the 1350 patients delivered during the study period, 40.20% were admitted with Ultrasound suggestive of doppler changes. Among them 59% presented with reduced diastolic flow in umbilical artery , 23.57% presented with reduced diastolic flow in umbilical artery with CPR = 1 and 13.2% with absent flow and 4%with reversal of diastolic flow. 54% of newborns who delivered preterm required nicu admissions.

Conclusion: Our study highlighted the importance of identifying the high risk cases, proper referrals, timely evaluation by clinical examination and doppler and planning the time of delivery keeping in mind the chance of intrauterine fetal demise versus neonatal morbidity, the role of Obstetricians in collaboration with Radiologist or fetal medicine expert and Pediatrician.

Keywords: Fetal Growth Restriction; Doppler Ultrasound; Placental Dysfunction; Umbilical Artery; Middle Cerebral Artery; Neonatal Outcome

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Citation

Citation: Siddharth Mitra.,et al. “Ultrasound Doppler: The Game Changer in Fetal Growth Restriction Evaluation and Mode of Delivery". Acta Scientific Paediatrics 8.10 (2025): 19-24.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Siddharth Mitra.,et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.