COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF UMBILICALARTERY DOPPLER PLACENTAL SITE, FREE LOOPAND ABDOMINAL SITE IN NORMOTENSIVE AND HYPERTENSIVE FEMALES DURING SECOND TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY

Abstract

Introduction: Umbilical artery Doppler ultrasonography has emerged as a valuable non-invasive tool for assessing fetal well-being and placental function during pregnancy. Aim of Study: To compare the Doppler indices in normotensive and hypertensive females in 2nd trimester of pregnancy at different sites of umbilical artery. Methodology: This cross-sectional descriptive study examined umbilical  artery Doppler indices in normotensive and hypertensive pregnant women during their second trimester. The study included 112 participants (56 hypertensive, 56 normotensive) aged 18-45 years with singleton pregnancies, recruited using non- probability purposive sampling at the Radiology Department of Medics Dr Amers over a 9-month period. Umbilical artery Doppler measurements were taken at placental, abdominal, and free loop sites. Results: Results indicated that in hypertensive females Doppler indices of umbilical artery vary remarkably at different sites (p < 0.05). Whereas in non-hypertensive females this significance was absent. These findings of this study suggested that umbilical artery Doppler indices can be helpful to differentiate normotensive from hypertensive pregnancies during the second trimester. Conclusion: This study concluded that umbilical artery Doppler indices (RI, PI, and SD ratio) at different sites are significantly higher in hypertensive pregnant women as compared to non-hypertensive females during the second trimester.