Ultrasound imaging in obstetrics and gynecology dates back to 1958 when The Lancet published the first article about the use of ultrasonography for fetal and gynecological assessments. It is now almost inconceivable, 60 years later, to think of effective performance in obstetrics and gynecology without the variety of ultrasound, for example, real time imaging, power and color Doppler, 3D/4D ultrasonography, etc. Such examinations facilitate the assessment of intrauterine fetal growth and development during pregnancy, provide alerts about the risk of pre-eclampsia and preterm birth, help identify anatomic reasons for infertility, diagnose ectopic pregnancies, uterine, ovary and tubal pathology. Ultrasonography is also used for diagnostic and treatment procedures during pregnancy or for the treatment of infertility. This article is an overview of the development of fetal ultrasound, the methodology and interpretation of ultrasound in the assessment of intrauterine fetal growth and fetal biometry standards both worldwide and in Lithuania.

Background and Objectives: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is the term used to describe a fetus whose estimated weight is less than the 10th percentile of its age growth curve. IUGR is the second most common cause of perinatal death. In many cases there is a deficiency in the standardization of optimal management, prenatal follow-up and timing of delivery. Doppler examination is the most sensitive test that can assess the condition of the fetus and indicate fetal intrauterine hypoxia. Numerous studies of the fetal intrauterine state focus on the umbilical artery and the fetal cerebral blood vessels, while the peripheral arteries have so far received insufficient attention. Materials and Methods: We present a case of an IUGR fetus monitored with a non-stress test (NST) and a Doppler examination of the fetal arteries (tibial, umbilical, middle cerebral and uterine) and the ductus venosus. In this case the first early sign of fetal hypoxia was revealed by blood flow changes in the tibial artery. Results: We hypothesize that peripheral vascular changes (in the tibial artery) may more accurately reflect the onset of deterioration in the condition of the IUGR fetus, such that peripheral blood flow monitoring ought to be employed along with other techniques already in use. Conclusion: This paper describes the clinical presentation of an early detection of late IUGR hypoxia and claims that blood flow changes in the tibial artery signal the worsening of the fetus’s condition.