Patient's question:
What does the four-dimensional color Doppler ultrasound mean when it says the single umbilical artery?Doctor's answer:
Analysis of the condition: Hello, a normal fetus has two umbilical arteries. Single umbilical artery is one of the markers of fetal abnormal development. However, having only the single umbilical artery marker does not indicate fetal developmental abnormalities or fetal chromosomal abnormalities.Recommendations: If the four-dimensional color Doppler ultrasound examination shows no fetal malformation features or other abnormalities, it should be considered as a "high-risk" pregnancy and undergo strict obstetric evaluation and follow-up observation. This is because these fetuses have an increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight. Single umbilical artery interferes with blood supply during embryonic development, which can lead to developmental abnormalities in the fetal cardiovascular system, central nervous system, gastrointestinal system, skeletal system, urogenital system, and fetal limbs.