Repeatability of the sonographic assessment of fetal sucking and swallowing movements.
OBJECTIVE
To test the repeatability of sonography in the assessment of fetal sucking and swallowing movements.


METHODS
Eighty normal fetuses of pregnant women with no systemic abnormalities were examined sonographically at 30-38 weeks of gestation. Sucking and swallowing movements were observed for 15 min and the face was visualized in frontal and lateral views. The examinations were recorded for later analysis by two independent observers and the 95% limits of agreement (Bland and Altman) method was used for inter- and intraobserver comparison.


RESULTS
The mean +/- SD number of swallowing movements, sucking bursts and total sucking movements recorded by Observer 1 were 8.3 +/- 4.7, 9.9 +/- 9.3 and 35.8 +/- 48.0 and the equivalent values for Observer 2 were 8.2 +/- 4.8, 9.8 +/- 9.3 and 36.4 +/- 49.0, respectively. The mean (95% limits of agreement) interobserver difference was 0.1 (-1.4; 1.6), 0.1 (-2.2; 2.3) and -0.6 (-9.0; 7.9), and the mean (95% limits of agreement) intraobserver difference was 0.4 (-3.1; 3.9), 0.1 (-2.0; 2.2) and 1.0 (-10.7; 12.7) for swallowing movements, sucking bursts and total sucking movements, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The high degree of intra- and interobserver repeatability disclosed in the sonographic analysis of fetal sucking and swallowing movements supports the applicability of sonographic assessment in normal fetuses.
Levy
D S
DS
Fetal Cardiology Unit, Institute of Cardiology of Rio Grande do Sul/Fuc, Porto Alegre, Brazil. pesquisa@cardnet.tche.br
Zielinsky
P
P
Aramayo
A M
AM
Behle
I
I
Stein
N
N
Dewes
L
L
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003679:Deglutition; D005145:Face / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology; D005260:Female; D005324:Fetal Movement; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D011247:Pregnancy; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013391:Sucking Behavior; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods