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[Ultrasonic estimation of fetal weight. Value of measuring limb fat]
P Balouet1, D Speckel, M Herlicoviez
1Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique, CHRU, Caen.
Many ultrasound models for estimating fetal weight have been proposed and for two reasons have not proved to be very successful. First, the weight of the future newborn baby is not necessarily the principal element of neonatal prognosis. Second, the different methods of measurements are so often inaccurate. Many studies dealing with estimates of fetal weight were based on traditional measurements and were therefore not very precise. We suggest a new method based on ultrasound fetal fat measures on a transverse section. This prospective study was made from 274 measurements of which half were used to establish the basic calculation formula and half for the purpose of statistical analysis. The overall accuracy (the median of departure from the means), is 6.3%. This model is particularly good in the case of small foetuses: 6.9% in the 1,000 to 1,500 grams group. Fetal fat seems to be more apt to provide information concerning weight. This measure is inherently a good one for estimating growth and should prove to be particularly interesting in the screening of small for date fetuses.
Many ultrasound models for estimating fetal weight have been proposed and for two reasons have not proved to be very successful. First, the weight of the future newborn baby is not necessarily the principal element of neonatal prognosis. Second, the different methods of measurements are so often inaccurate. Many studies dealing with estimates of fetal weight were based on traditional measurements and were therefore not very precise. We suggest a new method based on ultrasound fetal fat measures on a transverse section. This prospective study was made from 274 measurements of which half were used to establish the basic calculation formula and half for the purpose of statistical analysis. The overall accuracy (the median of departure from the means), is 6.3%. This model is particularly good in the case of small foetuses: 6.9% in the 1,000 to 1,500 grams group. Fetal fat seems to be more apt to provide information concerning weight. This measure is inherently a good one for estimating growth and should prove to be particularly interesting in the screening of small for date fetuses.