Received February 9,
2010, from ChildrenŐs Heart
© 2010 by the American
Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
J Ultrasound Med 2010;
29:1227–1231
0278-4297/10/$3.50
Revision requested March
3, 2010.
Revised manuscript
accepted for publication March 16, 2010.
Stenosis of Alternative Umbilical Venous Pathways in
Absence of the Ductus Venosus
Authors
Ruben J Acherman, MD, Robert
C Rollins, MD, William J Castillo, MD, William N Evans, MD
Source
ChildrenŐs Heart Center
Nevada, 3006 S Maryland Pkwy, Ste 690, Las Vegas, NV 89109, USA. E-mail: iacherman@aol.com.
Abstract
Objective. We
evaluated fetuses with absence of the ductus venosus (ADV) and restricted
alternative umbilical venous pathways.
Methods. We identified
3 cases that fit our objective. The angles of insonation for spectral Doppler
ultrasound interrogation were less than 20ˇ in all cases. We used commercially
available ultrasound systems with a curved array transducer.
Results. In all 3
cases, we noted mild cardiac volume overload without fetal hydrops.
Conclusions. We
speculate that the fetus with ADV and a restrictive alternative umbilical
venous pathway may have a more benign clinical course than fetuses previously
reported with unrestricted alternative pathways.