South African Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Dec 2016)
Threedimensional colour Doppler of ductus venous agenesis in the first trimester
Abstract
Ductus venosus (DV) has a pivotal role in the fetal circulation. It serves as a conduit connecting the fetal umbilical and portal venous system with the inferior vena cava (IVC). The absence of DV is an uncommon anomaly. In case of agenesis of DV, the umbilical vein joins the fetal systemic venous circulation via the intra-hepatic or extra-hepatic route. We report a case of absent DV with associated anomaly diagnosed in the first trimester using three-dimensional (3D) colour Doppler.