Hyperechoic amniotic fluid in a term pregnancy

Abstract

The presence of highly echogenic amniotic fluid (AF) is uncommon, and presence creates a dilemma in the mind of the clinician. Echogenic AF has been attributed to meconium, blood, and vernix caseosa. Many studies have shown that the presence of meconium is unlikely in most cases. We report a case of highly echogenic AF detected at 37 weeks which was managed conservatively with careful fetal monitoring for further 2 weeks expecting spontaneous onset of labor. Labor was induced due to reduced fetal movements at 39 weeks. Healthy baby weighing 3130 g was delivered by cesarean section after a failed induction with prostaglandin.

Assessment of fetal lung maturity by u/s and its impact on fetal outcome

“…Such findings were in agreement with studies by Kandil et al 15 that There was no evidence of a link between prenatal lung echogenicity and liver maturity or newborn RDS.. The same research indicated thalamic echogenicity was found to be a reliable predictor of foetal lung maturity with a 77% and 79% for sensitivity and specificity, respectively and Keikhaie et al 14 study that the foetal intestine was divided into four phases. And Grade 4 foetal intestine was found to be a predictor of foetal lung maturity with a good specificity and a low sensitivity (62.5%) (98.9 percent).…”

“…Previous studies by Keikhaie et al and Sharma et al 14,26 indicated that grade III placenta was associated with good fetal pulmonary maturity and the absence of respiratory distress syndrome.…”