[Evaluation of female intrapelvic blood vessels and their hemodynamics with real-time two-dimensional Doppler ultrasound].

Real-time two-dimensional and pulsed Doppler ultrasound examinations were performed on 5 healthy Japanese with a history of normal menses and 27 pregnant subjects with regular menstrual cycles and no complications. The objective of the study was to visualize blood flow and record blood flow velocity waveforms from the pelvic vessels. This approach led to an accurate estimation of blood flow in a non-invasive manner. No particular technical skill or training is required. The resistance index of the arcuate artery was high in non-pregnant subjects and in those in early pregnancy. By 15 weeks the index became low and there was little change thereafter. We propose that real-time two-dimensional and pulsed Doppler ultrasound will prove to be good diagnostic tools for the detection of various pathologies encountered in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.