Obstetricians' attitudes towards 'isolated' oligohydramnios at term

Oligohydramnios at term in the absence of maternal and fetal complications poses a dilemma in management. It is one of the major indications for antenatal surveillance and induction of labour. There is a growing body of evidence that oligohydramnios in the absence of maternal or fetal risk factors ('isolated' oligohydramnios) is not associated with an adverse perinatal outcome. In this study, we surveyed the management of isolated oligohydramnios at term in a tertiary referral maternity unit. Out of 92 women who were scanned at term, 22 (24%) women had isolated oligohydramnios. A greater tendency to intervene in such cases was noted with 10 (45%) women having labour induced, while one (4.5%) had an elective caesarean section. Emergency caesarean section rates were also higher in the oligohydramnios group (13.5%) than in a low risk group (6%). There was no increased perinatal morbidity when compared with pregnancies managed expectantly.