title: A comparison between amniotic fluid index and the single deepest vertical pocket technique in predicting adverse outcome in prolonged pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to compare perinatal outcome in induced postterm pregnancies with normal amniotic volume and in patients with prolonged pregnancy undergone induction for oligohydramnios, evaluated by two different ultrasonographic methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  amniotic fluid volume was measured, using Single Deepest Vertical Pocket (SDVP) and Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI), in 961 singleton uncomplicated prolonged pregnancies. In 109 of these patients, hospitalization was planned for induction of labor, during or after 42 weeks of gestation, for oligohydramnios, postterm pregnancy and other indications in 47, 51 and 11 cases, respectively. Perinatal outcome included: rate of caesarean section, fetal distress, non reassuring fetal heart tracing, presence of meconium, umbilical artery pH < 7.1, Apgar score at 5 minutes < 7, admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
  
  
  RESULTS
  oligohydramnios was diagnosed in 4.89% of cases, when at least one of the two methods was used. A reduced AFI and SDVP value identified 4.47% and 3.75% of cases, respectively, even if without statistical difference. No statistical differences were reported in perinatal outcomes in postterm versus prolonged pregnancies with oligohydramnios, also in relation to the two different ultrasonographic methods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  oligohydramnios is more frequently diagnosed using AFI than SDVP, consequently determining a higher rate of induction of labor. Moreover, perinatal outcome in prolonged induced pregnancies is not affected by oligohydramnios.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rosati
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guariglia
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Franca
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Cavaliere
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ciliberti
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buongiorno
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciardulli
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cianci
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore Giovanni
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.affiliation: Department of Prenatal Diagnosis, Altamedica Fetal Maternal Medical Centre, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cignini
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilenia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mappa
keywords: amniotic fluid index; post-term pregnancy; prolonged pregnancy; single deepest vertical pocket