Inferior vena cava diameter and the risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension and fetal compromise.
OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to investigate a possible clinical usefulness of the measurement of the inferior vena caval diameter (IVCD) during the late second trimester in predicting obstetrical complications.


METHODS
IVCD was measured in the supine and complete left lateral positions in 281 pregnant women at 24-27 weeks' gestation.


RESULTS
In 35 cases who showed the IVCD < or = 10 percentile in the complete left lateral position, there were six cases with pregnancy-induced hypertension and seven cases with a compromized fetus (with fetal distress and/or an Apgar score < 7 at 1 min), each incidence being significantly higher compared with cases with IVCD > 10 percentile.


CONCLUSIONS
The measurement of IVCD in the complete left lateral position may provide a valuable tool in predicting pregnancy outcome given its non-invasiveness and easiness.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Musashino Red-Cross Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
E
E
Ryo
N
N
Unno
D
D
Hagino
S
S
Kozuma
T
T
Nagasaka
Y
Y
Taketani
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012307:Risk Factors; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*