Multigated simultaneous spectral Doppler imaging: a new ultrasound modality.

Abstract

Spectral Doppler ultrasound, an important diagnostic tool for the functional assessment of various organs, as yet has no major use in prenatal diagnosis due to the conventional technique's limitation of analyzing only one site at a time. Our aim was to develop a new modality that shows simultaneous studies of multiple sites in a vascular area, which should provide improved assessment of hemodynamic status of vascular systems. The new Doppler modality features automatic acquisition and analysis of blood flow in multiple sites over a large area. The quantitative Doppler data are presented as color-coded maps of the spectral Doppler indices overlaid on the gray-scale sonographic images and as histograms of indices distribution. Serial sequences of Doppler measurements in the umbilical artery were taken in 14 women. The reproducibility of the new modality was confirmed. Our new Doppler modality provides reproducible and reliable data. This method is a viable alternative to the traditional Doppler ultrasound and might offer better assessment of feto-placental circulation.