An Assessment of the Impact of Smoking and Vaping During Pregnancy on Placental Dysfunction Using Shear-Wave Elastography

Objective: The primary variables influencing fetal growth are the genetic structure of the fetus, the functioning of the uteroplacental system, and maternal influences. The importance of smoking and exposure to cigarette smoke is a common preventable epidemiological problem. Smoking during pregnancy not only causes intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) but also raises the chances of having other systemic gestational illnesses. This study aims to assess placental dysfunction and placental flexibility using sonoelastographic imaging in pregnant women who consume both conventional cigarettes and electronic cigarettes during the second trimester.

Methods: In 841 of the 1169 pregnancies included in the study, the placenta was located anteriorly, anterolaterally, or posterolaterally and analyzed by 2D-SWE elastography. In 328 pregnancies, the placenta was excluded from the study due to posterior uterine wall localization. In 2D-SWE elastography, a rectangular fixed region of interest (ROI) measuring 1 × 0.5 cm was positioned at both the center and edge of the placenta. The resulting quantitative value for placental stiffness was then shown on the B-mode sonogram.

Results: Our investigation revealed significant statistical disparities in the average placental elasticity values between pregnant women who smoked 10 or more cigarettes per day and those who did not smoke (χ2: 22.61, P < .001). Our investigation did not find any statistically significant disparity in placental elasticity values between pregnant women who smoked traditional cigarettes and those who used electronic cigarettes (P > .05).

Conclusion: The adverse effects of smoking on fetal growth and development are thought to be caused by the presence of harmful substances in cigarette smoke and the formation of placental disorders. While 2D-shear wave elastography appears to be a dependable technique for examining uteroplacental dysfunctions and associated alterations caused by smoking and e-cigarette use during pregnancy, further extensive research studies are required.

Cite this article as: Çetin T, Durmaz Ö. An assessment of the impact of smoking and vaping during pregnancy on placental dysfunction using shear-wave elastography. Arch Basic Clin Res. 2024;6(3):188-194.