Pregnancy outcomes after antepartum diagnosis of oligohydramnios at or beyond 34 weeks' gestation.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to assess whether antepartum oligohydramnios is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes.


METHODS
Women delivered between July 1, 1991, and September 30, 1996, who underwent ultrasonography at >/=34 weeks' gestation were analyzed. Oligohydramnios was defined as an amniotic fluid index </=50 mm. Perinatal outcomes in pregnancies with oligohydramnios were compared with those with an amniotic fluid index of >50 mm.


RESULTS
In our analysis of 6423 pregnancies, 147 (2.3%) were complicated by oligohydramnios. This complication was associated with increased labor induction (42% vs 18%; P <.001), stillbirth (1. 4% vs 0.3%; P <.03), nonreassuring fetal heart rate (48% vs 39%; P <. 03), admission to the neonatal intensive care nursery (7% vs 2%; P <. 001), meconium aspiration syndrome (1% vs 0.1%; P <.001), and neonatal death (5% vs 0.3%; P <.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Antepartum oligohydramnios is associated with increased perinatal morbidity and mortality.
Casey
B M
BM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 75235-9032, USA.
McIntire
D D
DD
Bloom
S L
SL
Lucas
M J
MJ
Santos
R
R
Twickler
D M
DM
Ramus
R M
RM
Leveno
K J
KJ
D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000196:embryology / Q000209:etiology; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000209:etiology; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal; D007751:Labor, Induced; D008471:Meconium Aspiration Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D016104:Oligohydramnios / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D013997:Time Factors; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal