title: Amniotic fluid index: an appropriate predictor of perinatal outcome.
abstract: Qualitative amniotic fluid volume determination is a routine part of the fetal biophysical profile score. Quantitative amniotic fluid volume measurement, however, is not a factor in the determination of the standard biophysical profile score. This study is a retrospective analysis of antepartum assessment of amniotic fluid volumes and their relationship to neonatal outcomes. The amniotic fluid index was calculated for all patients examined and perinatal outcome was studied for all patients assessed. Patients with reduced or increased amniotic fluid volume had a significant increase in meconium-stained amniotic fluid, Apgar scores less than 7 at 1 and 5 minutes, major congenital anomalies, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, and were more likely to require delivery by cesarean section for fetal distress. This study suggests that a quantitative ultrasound measurement of amniotic fluid volume represents an effective discriminatory test to be used in pregnancy evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, State University of New York, Stony Brook 11794.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Shmoys
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sivkin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dery
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Monheit
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies