Standards for ultrasound fetal growth velocity

Abstract

Objectives An ultrasound study to establish the nature and limits of fetal growth in a low risk population from 22 weeks of gestation until term. Design Prospective, longitudinal ultrasound study of 274 low risk pregnancies involving organised scanning schedules with all measurements performed by one observer using the same equipment.Results Growth velocity charts have been created for a number of ultrasound parameters including estimated fetal weight, by applying appropriate statistical methods to the serial data. The rates of growth of the biparietal diameter, femur length, abdominal area and estimated weight each have characteristic patterns demonstrating maximal growth rates at different gestations. Conclusions Appropriately derived and calculated ultrasound fetal growth velocity standards have been established. These data are suitable for the evaluation of ultrasonically estimated fetal growth rates in the prediction of adverse perinatal outcome and the further investigation of the role of the intrauterine environment in the origin of adult disease.been highlighted6. This study was designed to establish such standards of growth velocity for a number of fetal measurements in a low risk obstetric population. METHODSThree hundred and thirteen women attending the antenatal clinic at our hospital were enrolled into the study. Entry criteria were gestational age of less than 85 days confirmed by crown-rump length measurement and the absence of recognised risk factors for accelerated or retarded fetal growth (previous SGA or IUGR pregnancy, existing medical disorder or heavy smoking (> 20 cigarettes per day)). All the subjects were scanned for fetal anomaly at 18 weeks of gestation, which is routine practice in our department. Thereafter, the subjects were sequentially entered into one of the four scanning schedules (n = number continuing in the study). weeks (n = 67).These schedules gave weekly coverage of pregnancy from 22 weeks onwards. All ultrasound 60 0

Foetal growth velocities in twin pregnancies

“…Gestati on speci fi c vel oci ty Z scores w ere deri ved from si ngl eton reference data 3 for both BPD and FA A usi ng the equati on: Z = M easured mean grow th vel oci ty -Reference mean grow th vel oci ty…”

Influence of ultrasound‐to‐delivery interval and maternal–fetal characteristics on validity of estimated fetal weight

“…Many studies have included births up to 1 week beyond the last ultrasound examination 11 -13 . Combining the data available for infants born on the same day as the last ultrasound examination with infants born up to 1 week later may bias estimates of EFW validity because the fetus grows 20 g per day, on average, during late pregnancy 14 . Previous studies have failed to examine the effect that including such wide ultrasound-to-delivery intervals might have on the study results.…”

Screening for Macrosomia at Term: Performances of Ultrasonographic Estimation of the Fetal Weight and the Use of the Uterine Height

“…Most studies, including those mentioned above, did not take into account the effect growth between the estimated weight and birth, especially since they were not, for the most part, and carried forward and therefore with an important estimate-childbirth period. One of the great strengths of our study is taking a term population and having taken into account of the effect growth of 25 grams per day [14].…”

“…The EFW has been corrected by considering an average growth of 25 g / day between the day of the term of consultation and the day of birth [14]. Thus was obtained the corrected estimate fetal weight (EFWc) by the formula:…”