Publication:

Comparative study of maternal and fetal outcome between low and normal amniotic fluid index at term

Background Amniotic fluid index (AFI) is kind of an estimate of the amount of amniotic fluid. It is an index for the fetal well-being. The aim was to study fetal and maternal out come in cases of low AFI and normal AFI.

Methods This was a case control prospective comparative study performed on 200 randomly selected low risk pregnant patients at term (37-40 weeks of gestation) admitted in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department. 100 patients with AFI <5 cm (cases) and 100 patients with AFI 8-20 cm (control).

Results Increased number of LSCS in cases that is 35 while only 10 in control and almost equal incidences of MSL and FD in both the groups, while in cases 17 women were planned for elective LSCS for various indications in expectation of better fetal outcome.  There was significant low APGAR score in babies of cases, but clinically we refute this. In present study almost double the no. of babies in cases was IUGR or FGR. Significant association between low AFI and congenital anomalies in babies. Most of the anomalies were of urinary tract system.

Conclusions An AFI ≤5 cm detected at term that was at or after 37 completed weeks of gestation in a low risk pregnancy was an indicator of poor perinatal outcome. Oligohydramnios was being detected more frequently now-a-days due to ready availability of ultrasonography these days.