title: Suspected versus non-suspected small-for-gestational age fetuses at term: perinatal outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare perinatal outcomes of suspected versus non-suspected small-for-gestational age fetuses (SGA) at term.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study among all term singleton neonates with a birth weight <10th percentile born in the Parkstad region between 1 January 2006 and 3 March 2008. The subjects were assigned to a prenatally suspected or non-suspected SGA group. Primary outcome was adverse neonatal outcome at birth, defined as a composite of intrauterine fetal death, Apgar <7 at 5 min, or pH umbilical artery <7.05. Secondary outcome included neonatal medium care unit (NMCU) admission ≥ 7 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  430 subjects were included in the study; 36.7% was suspected of SGA. In the suspected SGA group mean gestational age at birth and birth weight were significantly lower, whereas maternal morbidity was significantly higher. The incidence of labor induction and elective cesarean section were also significantly higher in the suspected SGA group. Total perinatal mortality was 2.1%. Identification of SGA and subsequent management led to a significant decrease of adverse neonatal outcome at birth, but did not lead to a significant decrease in NMCU admission ≥ 7 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Suspicion of SGA was associated with a more active management of labor and delivery, resulting in a better neonatal outcome at birth.
authors: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.
authors: Jan-Willem
authors: JW
authors: Verlijsdonk
authors: Bjorn
authors: B
authors: Winkens
authors: Kim
authors: K
authors: Boers
authors: Sicco
authors: S
authors: Scherjon
authors: Frans
authors: F
authors: Roumen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D016015:Logistic Models; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D054238:Perinatal Mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult