Amniotic fluid index before and after amnioinfusion of a fixed volume of normal saline

Twenty-one women at term, with an amniotic fluid index (AFI) less than or equal to 5.0 cm and intact membranes, underwent an artificial amniotomy and transcervical amnioinfusion of 250 mL of normal saline at room temperature. The mean (+/- SD) cervical dilation at the time of the transcervical amnioinfusion was 2.6 +/- 1.3 cm (range, 1-6). The mean AFI prior to the amnioinfusion was 3.0 +/- 1.49 cm (range, 0-4.7). The mean AFI after the amnioinfusion was 8.9 +/- 2.9 cm (range, 5.1-14.3). A mean change in the AFI of 5.8 +/- 2.6 cm (range, 0.9-10.6) was noted. Among patients with AFI less than or equal to 5.0 cm and intact membranes, amnioinfusion of 250 mL of normal saline seems to be a safe and simple way to increase the AFI to greater than 5.0 cm.