ULTQASONOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENTS OF THE AMNEOTEC FLUED INDEX IN POSTTERM PREGNANcY

Abstract

Postterm pregnancy is a pregnancy that is calculated to have I • proceeded beyond the end of the 42nd week[> 294 days] from the onset of the last menstrual period (Pile/an et aL, 1987).

Posttenn 'Pregnancy is associated with increased fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality (Lockwood et aL, 1994).

Oligohydramnios has particular relevance to postterm pregnancies because the volume of amniotic fluid diminishes as gestation advances beyond term (Divon et at., 1995). Ultrasound plays an important role in • the antepartum fetal surveillance of postterm patients particularly in the detrmination of amniotic fluid volume and the management of postterm pregnancy depends mainly on antepartum• fetal surveillance. Amniotic fluid index is a method described by Phelan et aL (1987) for qualitative assessment of amniotic fluid volume. The technique involves dividing the uterine cavity into four quadrants utilizing the linea nigra as the vertical axis and the umbilicus as the horizontal axis. In each quadrant the pocket of amniotic fluid with greatest depth is measured. The four measurements are added together and the sum represents the amniotic fluid index (Pile/an et at., 1987).