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Dopler Ingles (1 5)
Dopler Ingles (1 5)
Clinical Standards Committee its different modalities: spectral Doppler, color flow
mapping and power Doppler, which are commonly
The International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics
used to study the maternal–fetal circulation. We do not
and Gynecology (ISUOG) is a scientific organization that
describe the continuous-wave Doppler technique, because
encourages sound clinical practice, teaching and research
this is not usually applied in obstetric imaging; however,
related to diagnostic imaging in women’s healthcare.
in cases in which the fetus has a condition leading to very
The ISUOG Clinical Standards Committee (CSC) has
high-velocity blood flow (e.g. aortic stenosis or tricuspid
a remit to develop Practice Guidelines and Consensus
regurgitation), it might be helpful in order to define
Statements as educational recommendations that provide
clearly the maximum velocities by avoiding aliasing.
healthcare practitioners with a consensus-based approach
The techniques and practices described in this Guideline
for diagnostic imaging. They are intended to reflect what
have been selected to minimize measurement error and
is considered by ISUOG to be the best practice at the
improve reproducibility. They may not be applicable in
time at which they are issued. Although ISUOG has made
certain clinical conditions or for research protocols.
every effort to ensure that Guidelines are accurate when
Details of the grades of recommendation used in this
issued, neither the Society nor any of its employees or
Guideline are provided in Appendix 1. Reporting of levels
members accepts any liability for the consequences of any
of evidence is not applicable to this Guideline.
inaccurate or misleading data, opinions or statements
issued by the CSC. They are not intended to establish
a legal standard of care because interpretation of the RECOMMENDATIONS
evidence that underpins the Guidelines may be influenced
by individual circumstances and available resources. What equipment is needed for Doppler evaluation
Approved Guidelines can be distributed freely with the of the fetoplacental circulation?
permission of ISUOG (info@isuog.org).
• Equipment should have color flow and spectral wave
Doppler capabilities, with onscreen display of flow
SCOPE OF THE DOCUMENT velocity scales or pulse repetition frequency (PRF) and
Doppler ultrasound frequency (in MHz).
This document is a Practice Guideline on how to perform • The mechanical index (MI) and thermal index (TI)
Doppler ultrasonography of the fetoplacental circulation. should be displayed on the ultrasound screen and the
It is of the utmost importance not to expose the embryo or ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) principle
fetus to unduly harmful ultrasound energy, particularly in should be applied during examination to ensure safety.
the earliest stages of pregnancy. At these stages, Doppler (GOOD PRACTICE POINT)
recording, when clinically indicated, should be performed • The ultrasound system should generate a maximum
at the lowest possible energy levels. ISUOG has published velocity envelope (MVE) showing the whole spectral
guidance on the use of Doppler ultrasound at the 11 Doppler waveform.
to 13 + 6-week fetal ultrasound examination1 . When • It should be possible to delineate the MVE using
performing Doppler imaging, the displayed thermal index automatic or manual waveform traces.
should be ≤ 1.0 and the exposure time should be kept as • The system software should be able to estimate peak
short as possible, usually no longer than 5–10 min. systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV)
It is not the intention of this Guideline to define and time-averaged maximum velocity (TAMX) from
clinical indications, specify appropriate timing of Doppler the MVE and to calculate the commonly used Doppler
examination in pregnancy or discuss how to interpret indices, i.e. pulsatility (PI) and resistance (RI) indices
findings or the use of Doppler in fetal echocardiography. and the peak systolic/end-diastolic velocity ratio (S/D
The aim is to describe pulsed Doppler ultrasound and ratio). The spectral trace should indicate the various
© 2021 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd ISUOG GUIDELINES
on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
332 ISUOG Guidelines
points included in the calculation of the Doppler • Similar to grayscale imaging, the penetration and
indices. (GOOD PRACTICE POINT) resolution of the Doppler beam can be optimized
by adjusting the frequency (in MHz) of the Doppler
Basic technical aspects transducer.
• The vessel wall filter, variously called ‘low-velocity
All Doppler modalities are based on three fundamental reject’, ‘wall-motion filter’ or ‘high-pass filter’, is used
principles. (1) Moving structures change the frequency to eliminate noise resulting from the movement of the
and amplitude of reflected ultrasound signals. Moving vessel walls. According to convention, it should be set
structures include not only blood, but also fetal vessels as low as possible (≤ 50–60 Hz), in order to eliminate
or tissues. This can generate a shift in the backscattered the low-frequency noise from peripheral blood vessels.
signals. (2) Analysis of the components of the reflected When using a higher threshold for the filter, a gap
signals are utilized for different Doppler modalities: the between the Doppler line and the Doppler signals can
shift in frequency for directional color and spectral be seen. This can create the spurious effect of absent
Doppler, and the shift in amplitude for power Doppler EDV (see Figure 4b).
ultrasound (PDU). (3) All color and power Doppler • A higher wall filter is useful to obtain a well-defined
modalities are pulsed techniques, while spectral Doppler MVE from structures such as the aortic and pulmonary
can be pulsed or continuous. outflow tracts, which have high-velocity flows. A lower
PRF, or scale, is the frequency at which the ultrasound wall filter might cause noise, appearing as flow artifacts
signals (pulses) are emitted; a low PRF allows signals close to the baseline or after valve closure.
from slow-moving targets to reach the transducer before • Doppler horizontal sweep speed should be fast enough
the next pulse is emitted, whereas a high PRF will allow to separate successive waveforms. Ideal is a display of
only high velocities to reach the ultrasound transducer four to six (but no more than eight to 10) complete
before the next pulse. The wall filter is a barrier defined cardiac cycles. For fetal heart rates of 110–150 bpm,
by a specific threshold frequency below which signals a sweep speed of 50–100 mm/s is adequate. (GOOD
are not displayed in the Doppler image. Gain is the PRACTICE POINT)
amplification of signals. The quality and reproducibility • The PRF should be adjusted according to the vessel
of the recordings can be improved by knowledge of these studied: a low PRF will enable visualization and
Doppler settings and how to adjust them. accurate measurement of low-velocity flow; however,
it will produce aliasing when high velocities are
How can the acquisition of Doppler waveforms be encountered. The waveform should fill at least 75% of
optimized? the Doppler screen (see Figure 3). (GOOD PRACTICE
POINT)
Spectral pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasonography • Doppler measurements should be reproducible; there-
• Recordings should be obtained in the absence of fetal fore, it is recommended to obtain more than one
breathing and body movements and, if necessary, Doppler recording. If there is an obvious discrepancy
during temporary maternal breath-holding. between two measurements, another recording is rec-
• Color flow mapping is not mandatory, although it is ommended. The most technically superior recording
very helpful in identification of the vessel of interest (which usually means the one with highest MVE) should
and in defining the direction of blood flow. be used for reporting. (GOOD PRACTICE POINT)
• The optimal insonation is completely aligned with the • Most ultrasound systems display the average of the
direction of blood flow. This ensures the best conditions indices of three consecutive waveforms obtained from
for assessing absolute velocities and waveforms. Small each Doppler recording.
deviations in angle may occur. An insonation angle of • In order to increase the quality of Doppler recordings,
10◦ corresponds to a 2% error in the velocity, whilst an frequent updates of the real-time grayscale or color
angle of 20◦ corresponds to 6% error. When absolute Doppler image should be performed (i.e. after
velocity is the clinically important parameter (e.g. for confirming in the real-time image that the Doppler
the middle cerebral artery (MCA)) and an angle of close gate is positioned correctly, the two-dimensional (2D)
to 0◦ cannot be obtained, despite repeated attempts, grayscale and/or color Doppler image should be frozen
angle correction may be used. In this case, a statement while the Doppler waveforms are being recorded).
should be added to any report, noting the angle of • Correct positioning and optimization of the Doppler
insonation and whether angle correction was carried recording of the frozen 2D image should be ensured by
out or that the uncorrected velocity is recorded. listening to the audible representation of the Doppler
• It is advisable to start with a relatively wide shift over the speaker.
Doppler gate (sample volume) to ensure the recording • Simultaneous use of grayscale, color flow mapping and
of maximum velocities during the entire pulse. If spectral Doppler (triplex mode) significantly negatively
interference from other vessels causes problems, the affects the quality of acquired data and is discouraged.
gate can be reduced to refine the recording. It should • Doppler gain should be adjusted in order to see clearly
be kept in mind that the sample volume can be reduced the Doppler velocity waveform, without the presence
only in height, not in width. of artifacts in the background of the display.
© 2021 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2021; 58: 331–339.
on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
ISUOG Guidelines 333
• It is advisable not to invert the Doppler display on the • There is no aliasing phenomenon using PDU (except
ultrasound screen. In the evaluation of the fetal heart directional PDU); however, an inappropriately low PRF
and central vessels, it is very important to maintain may lead to noise and artifacts.
the original direction of the color flow and pulsed- • Gain should be reduced in order to prevent amplifica-
wave Doppler display. Conventionally, flow towards tion of noise (seen as uniform color in the background).
the ultrasound transducer is displayed as red and PDU persistence should also be adjusted; high persis-
the waveforms are above the baseline, whereas flow tence adds PDU information to that from a previous
away from the transducer is displayed as blue and the image, while no persistence shows the dynamic changes
waveforms are below the baseline. (GOOD PRACTICE in PDU in each frame. High persistence is useful when
POINT) the vascularity of an area is evaluated.
• Compared with grayscale imaging, color Doppler Using real-time color Doppler ultrasound, the main
increases the total power emitted. Color Doppler branch of the uterine artery is located easily at the
resolution increases when the color box is reduced cervicocorporeal junction. Doppler velocimetry measure-
in size. Care must be taken in assessing the MI and TI ments are usually performed near to this location, either
as they change according to the size and depth of the transabdominally2 or transvaginally3–5 . While absolute
color box. velocities are of little or no clinical importance, semiquan-
• Increasing the size of the color box also increases the titative assessment of the velocity waveforms is commonly
processing time and thus reduces the frame rate; the employed. Measurements should be reported indepen-
box should be kept as small as possible, to include only dently for the right and left uterine arteries, and the
the studied area. presence of notching should be noted. (GOOD PRAC-
• The velocity scale or PRF should be adjusted to TICE POINT)
represent the blood flow velocities of the studied vessel. Notching is defined qualitatively as reduced early
When the PRF is high, low-velocity vessels will not be diastolic velocities before the maximum diastolic velocity
displayed on the screen. When a low PRF is applied in the Doppler waveform. The severity of notching is
incorrectly, aliasing will present as contradictory color defined by the difference between the lower early and the
velocity codes and ambiguous flow direction. maximum diastolic velocities6 .
• As for grayscale imaging, color Doppler resolution
and penetration depend on the ultrasound frequency. First-trimester uterine artery evaluation (Figure 1)
The frequency for the color Doppler mode should be
adjusted to optimize the signals. 1. Transabdominal technique
• Gain should be adjusted in order to prevent noise and
artifacts, seen as a random display of color dots in the • Transabdominally, a mid-sagittal section of the uterus
background of the screen. is obtained, and the cervical canal is identified.
• The filter should also be adjusted to exclude noise from • The probe is then moved laterally until the paracervical
the region studied. vascular plexus is seen.
• The angle of insonation affects the color Doppler image; • Color Doppler is turned on and the uterine artery is
it should be adjusted by optimizing the position of identified as it turns cranially, to make its ascent to the
the ultrasound probe according to the vessel or area uterine body.
studied.
© 2021 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2021; 58: 331–339.
on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
334 ISUOG Guidelines
2. Transvaginal technique
• The woman should be asked to empty her bladder and
should be placed in the dorsal lithotomy position.
• Transvaginally, the probe is placed in the anterior
fornix. Similar to the transabdominal technique, the
probe is moved laterally to visualize the paracervical
vascular plexus, and the same steps are carried out in
the same sequence as for the transabdominal technique.
• Care should be taken not to insonate the cervicovaginal
artery (which runs in a cranial to caudal direction) or
the arcuate arteries.
© 2021 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2021; 58: 331–339.
on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
ISUOG Guidelines 335
© 2021 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2021; 58: 331–339.
on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.