ASSESSMENT OF AMNIOTIC FLUID INDEX IN NORMAL PREGNANCY AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL SETTING

Authors

  • Habiba Sharaf Ali

Abstract

Background: Ultrasound assessment of amniotic fluid has important implication in obstetrics care andit has become an integral and important component of pregnancy assessment. Changes in amniotic fluidvolume are associated with adverse outcome. Excess volume is associated with foetal anomalies andaneuploidy and less volume is associated with Intra Uterine Growth Retardation, renal anomalies in thesecond trimester. The objective of this study was to establish a normative scale of Amniotic Fluid Index(AFI) throughout gestation in uncomplicated singleton pregnancies, and to identify the lower and upperlimits for each gestational week. Method: A prospective cross-sectional study conducted in a privatetertiary care Hospital from Jan 2004 to April 2005. Amniotic fluid index was calculated in 400 womenattending the antenatal clinic. The gestational age of these women range from 20–40 weeks. Womenwith foetal anomalies, Pregnancy Induced Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus and other maternalcomplication were excluded from study. The median, mean, 5th, 50th, and 95th percentile werecalculated for each gestation and these values are compared with other studies. Results: The amnioticfluid index observations from regression equation curve were stratified in week-specific normativecurves. The mean of preterm was significantly greater than mean of term gestation (p<0.05). Ourmedian reached peak at 27th week of gestation another peak at 30–31 week. The values then begin agradual fall to 40 weeks gestation. Conclusion Gestational age specific values of AFI were established,showing significant trends of changes in the amniotic fluid volume with gestation.Keywords: Amniotic fluid index, normal pregnancy, Pakistan

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Published

2009-09-01

Issue

Vol. 21 No. 3 (2009): JOURNAL OF AYUB MEDICAL COLLEGE, ABBOTTABAD

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

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