The use of Doppler umbilical artery waveforms in placental abruption; a report of two cases.

In a prospective study, the predictive value of Doppler umbilical arterial velocimetry waveforms in detecting the fetus at risk was examined in ten patients with abruptio placenta. One patient suffered intra-uterine fetal death within 8 h of obtaining a normal reactive cardiotocograph and normal umibilical artery waveforms. In another patient with severe placental abruption, following 2500 ml of blood loss, the umbilical artery waveforms were normal. In this study, umbilical artery waveforms failed to predict fetal outcome in cases of placental abruption.