Study of amniotic fluid and its co-relation with pregnancy outcome in high risk pregnancies

Abstract

Background: Amniotic fluid is an important part of pregnancy sac and helps in fetal development. There is a consistent association between low AFI and conditions like pregnancy induced hypertension, postdated pregnancy and IUGR resulting in poor fetal outcome. In fact, high risk patients with low amniotic fluid index need to deliver quickly. So, an assessment of amniotic fluid volume has become an important component of antenatal testing for the high risk pregnancy. The objective was to study the correlation between Amniotic fluid index less than 5 cm (AFI˂5) and adverse perinatal outcome in high risk pregnancies.Methods: It was a hospital based prospective, comparative study. 150 high risk patients were selected from inpatient department of obstetrics and Gynecology Government Medical College Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India over a period of one and half year. High risk pregnancies belonging to study group with AFI˂5 were demographically matched with high risk pregnancies with AFI >5 serving as comparison group. Perinatal outcome, rate of caesarean section and early intervention need were compared between the two groups.Results: 77.3% women in study group underwent caesarean section as compared to 28% in control group to prevent adverse perinatal outcome. 60% babies in study group had APGAR score less than 6 at 1 minute compared to only 8% in control group. 61.4% babies in study group needed NICU admission compared to 10.7% in study group.Conclusions: AFI is predictor of adverse outcome for high risk pregnancies. The early recognition alerts an obstetrician to prevent perinatal catastrophe if timely intervention is done along with antepartum and intrapartum fetal monitoring.

A study on maternal and perinatal outcome in relation to amniotic fluid volume in pregnant women at term with or without risk factors

“…The study conducted by Bhagat and Chawla [15] noted that that an APGAR score < 7 at 5 min was noted in 4% women. The study conducted by Rashid et al [25] revealed that the poor APGAR score at 5 min in 46.7% subjects with low Amniotic Fluid Index, the findings were in contrast to the observations in the present study. The study conducted by Vasanthamani et al [22] observed that the rate of low APGAR score (<7) at 5 min was observed among 11% of babies of mother having Amniotic Fluid Index < ~ 253 ~ 5.…”

“…The correlation of mode of delivery and amniotic fluid index was found statistically significant. The study conducted by Rashid et al [25] revealed that the LSCS rate was significantly higher in the study participants with AFI < 5. The findings were similar to observations of the present study.…”