A Comparative Study of Perinatal Outcomes in Patients with Oligohydramnios (Low Amniotic Fluid Index)

Abstract

Background: This study was aimed to evaluate the predictive value of low amniotic fluid index (AFI) (≤5) for abnormal perinatal outcomes. Abnormal perinatal outcomes included cesarean section for fetal distress, low birth weight, meconium staining, low Apgar scores and admission to NICU. Methods: This was a prospective study of 200 antenatal subjects at Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Bemina during the years 2014-2015 with gestational age between 34 and 41 weeks. The history, clinical examination of the subjects was recorded and AFI was measured and the perinatal outcome compared between AFI ≤ 5 and ≥ 5 groups. Result: We observed that the low birth weight babies < 2.5 kg and cesarean section rate for fetal distress was greater in subjects with oligohydramnios (p < 0.5). Insignificant differences were observed in perinatal outcomes of meconium staining, Apgar score of <7 at birth between the two groups. Conclusion: Thus it can be concluded that oligohydramnios significantly correlates with the cesarean section for fetal distress, low birth weight babies and admission to NICU.