Objective: To assess feasibility and physiological variation of fetal ductus venosus Doppler velocimetry during the first stage of labor between uterine contractions. Study design: A prospective cross-sectional study including 23 healthy women with low-risk pregnancies. Maximum velocities during ventricular systole (S) and atrial contraction (A) were recorded in the ductus venosus between contractions. Pulsatility index for veins (DV PIV) and the ductus venosus index (DVI) were also calculated. Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Martin. Results: Acceptable ductus venosus waveforms were acquired in 19 fetuses (83%). The mean ± SD values of the ductus venosus index and the pulsatility index were 0.46 ± 0.07 (95% CI: 0.42-0.49) and 0.57 ± 0.12 (95% CI: 0.51-0.63), respectively. The mean ± SD values of maximum velocities during ventricular systole (S) and atrial contraction (A) were 65 ± 8 cm/s and 35 ± 5 cm/s, respectively. Conclusion: Ductus venosus blood flow velocities can be assessed during labor. This calls for an extension of the detection possibilities of intrauterine fetal status and gives an idea to establish reference ranges for these circulation parameters during labor in the future.

        Key words: ductus venosus, Doppler ultrasound, labor