title: The use of ultrasound in the prediction of fetal pulmonary maturity.
abstract: Previous studies suggest that ultrasound criteria of biparietal diameter (BPD) and/or placental grade permit elimination of amniocentesis for pregnancy dating. To evaluate the potential risks and benefits of such a modified approach to determining fetal maturity, this prospective study, in which a BPD of greater than or equal to 9.2 cm or a Grade III placenta was used instead of amniotic fluid analysis, was undertaken. One hundred fifty-three infants were delivered electively between March, 1981, and January, 1982, on the basis of ultrasound parameters of pulmonary maturity. None of the electively delivered infants developed respiratory distress syndrome. We conclude from these preliminary results that the ultrasonically determined BPD of greater than or equal to 9.2 cm Grade III placenta is at least as sensitive as the lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio in predicting pulmonary maturity in our patient population.
mesh_terms: D002585:Cesarean Section; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography