Placental Insufficiency Microcirculation Quantification by Ultrafast Doppler: an Observational Prospective Study

To identify fetuses small for their gestational-age who have reached their appropriate growth potential from growth-restricted fetuses due to placental insufficiency is uneasy. Intra Uterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) increases the risk for indicated preterm delivery, neonatal mortality and morbidity. Therefore, improving the knowledge of the placental perfusion is essential to better identify and manage fetal chronic oxygen deprivation associated with placental insufficiency. Thus, the investigators propose to study placental microcirculation with a more efficient Doppler than conventional Doppler use in clinical practice. The Ultrafast Doppler is being able to map placental blood flow and could have potential impact in placental insufficiency diagnosis and prevention. Moreover, this Doppler could discriminate maternal and fetal vascularization.

The hypothesis is that Ultrafast Doppler could help clinician to diagnose and manage preeclampsia and IUGR during pregnancy.