title: Decreased amniotic fluid index in term pregnancy. Clinical significance.
abstract: In a study of 331 term pregnancies a four-quadrant technique was used to obtain amniotic fluid index measurements, and the results were compared with the current widely used single-pocket measurement. In contrast to the "2-cm rule," the amniotic fluid index measurements consistently demonstrated higher sensitivity in predicting poor fetal outcome with no decrease in specificity. It was noted that pregnancies with an index of < or = 8 cm showed higher incidences of meconium staining, cesarean delivery for fetal distress, abnormal fetal heart rate monitoring and Apgar scores of < or = 7 or less at one minute.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Jeng
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lan
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000502:physiology*; D001034:Apgar Score; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000175:diagnosis; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D008470:Meconium; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D011446:Prospective Studies