[Sonographic detection of increased perfusion in placental insufficiency following TNS therapy using pulsed Doppler ultrasound]

Abstract

In the last years transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TNS) has been used at the first Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics in Vienna for the therapy of placental insufficiency. With the new method of Doppler Ultrasonography a direct measurement of blood flow in the Arteriae umbilicales is possible. In 16 patients with reduced placental perfusion between 34 to 38 weeks of pregnancy TNS-therapy has been monitored by Doppler Ultrasonography. In 14 patients an impressive improvement to normal values of perfusion could be observed. Only 2 patients with morphological changes in the placenta were resistant to therapy. A control group of 16 patients with normal values of perfusion did not show any response to TNS-therapy as expected. Therefore this safe and simple method of TNS is recommended for the therapy of functional placental insufficiency.