For citation:
Salov I. A., Skripal A. V., Lomovitskaya M. V., Zhilnio E. Y., Mashkov K. V. Ultrasonographic evaluation of fetal hypoxia. Izvestiya of Saratov University. Physics , 2026, vol. 26, iss. 2, pp. 158-164. DOI: 10.18500/1817-3020-2026-26-2-158-164, EDN: OBUSIC
Ultrasonographic evaluation of fetal hypoxia
Background and Objectives: Fetal hypoxia is a common and dangerous complication of pregnancy, associated with central nervous system damage, multi-organ dysfunction, and perinatal mortality. The release of meconium into amniotic fluid serves as a marker of intrauterine hypoxia and a risk factor for meconium aspiration syndrome. Existing diagnostic methods, such as amniocentesis and amnioscopy, are invasive and not suitable for routine practice. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop and validate a noninvasive ultrasound-basedmethodfor early diagnosis of fetal hypoxia through the assessment of amniotic fluid characteristics. Materials and Methods: The study included 30 pregnant women who delivered at the Yury Ya. Gordeev First City Clinical Hospital. All participants provided informed consent; the protocol was approved by the local ethics committee. Ultrasound scans of the amniotic fluid were obtained using the Accuvix XG (Samsung Medison) system. Images were processed with custom software developed in Python (certificate of state registration No. 2024614541). The algorithm calculated the mean pixel intensity in the selected amniotic fluid area, with values ranging from 0 (black, maximum ultrasound transmission) to 255 (white, maximum reflection). Calibration curves were built from in vitro spectral analysis of amniotic fluid with varying meconium content. Diagnostic thresholds were established: intensity <50 indicated absence of hypoxia, 50–80 corresponded to moderate hypoxia, and >80 to severe hypoxia. Results: The method has demonstrated a strong correlation between the ultrasound pixel intensity, amniotic fluid echogenicity, and meconium concentration. It has allowed a reliable differentiation between normal, moderate, and severe hypoxia. Unlike invasive techniques, this approach is simple, repeatable, and safe, suitable for both inpatient and outpatient antenatal monitoring. Conclusion: A noninvasive ultrasound method for assessing fetal hypoxia has been developed and clinically tested. It provides objective criteria for detecting meconium in amniotic fluid and grading hypoxia severity. The technique is safe, accessible, and has potential for broad clinical use, supporting timely interventions to improve perinatal outcomes. Further validation in larger cohorts is needed.
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