title: Direct prediction of amniotic fluid volume in the third trimester by 3-dimensional measurements of intrauterine pockets: a tool for routine clinical use.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop an ultrasonographic technique for direct prediction of amniotic fluid volume.
  
  
  METHODS
  While women with near-term pregnancies were in the supine position, the intrauterine space was divided into 2 hemispheres and each hemisphere was further subdivided into 3 segments. The maximum distances along the 3 axes of amniotic fluid pocket in each segment were measured, and the volume was calculated as a half-ellipsoid or a crescent-cylinder. A sum of these calculations (prediction of amniotic fluid volume [pAFV]) was made and correlated with amniotic fluid volume measured at delivery (mAFV).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 714 deliveries, a high correlation coefficient of 0.896 between mAFV (mean +/- SD, 296.5 +/- 199.2 mL; range, 20 to 1480 mL) and pAFV (mean +/- SD, 300.2 +/- 180.8 mL; range, 27 to 1262 mL) was obtained. The regression equation was mAFV = 0.968pAFV + 8.68.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The regression equation suggested that pAFV could be a direct predictor of intrauterine amniotic fluid volume in the third trimester.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kanazawa Holy Spirit Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiyasu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hombo
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohshita
authors.forename: Shosuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takamura
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uchide
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inoue
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D016104:Oligohydramnios / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014599:Uterus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*