The Use of Doppler to Assess Hemodynamic Alterations in Maternal Common Femoral Veins in Uncomplicated Pregnancies: A Cohort Study

Abstract

Objective: Pregnancy can induce the slowing of blood flow in the lower extremity veins and associated complications such as varicose veins. The objective of this study was to report the hemodynamic alterations in uncomplicated pregnancies during second and third trimesters using spectral Doppler. The specific aim was to compare the venous diameter and mean flow velocities of maternal common femoral veins (CFVs) during second and third trimesters of pregnancy. This was designed to assess the extent of pregnancy-induced hemodynamic changes as well as to establish a normative range of these values. Materials and Methods: This cohort study was conducted with 230 women during second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Grayscale sonography and spectral Doppler were used to record the diameter and mean flow velocity of maternal CFVs bilaterally. An independent sample t test was performed for the comparison of these between women with second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Statistical significance was set a P ≤ .05, a priori. Results: There was significant dilatation and a corresponding decrease in mean blood flow velocities in the CFVs in the participants in their third trimester compared with the second trimester of pregnancy. Conclusion: In this large cohort of participants, the CFV demonstrated statistically significant distension and slowing of blood flow with the advancement of their pregnancies.