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Ultrasonic intrauterine growth curves
H K Chellani1, A Batra, S Suri
1Department of Pediatrics, Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi.
Insights
Serial ultrasound measurements accurately track fetal growth, creating curves for weight, length, and ponderal index. This helps identify pregnancies with altered fetal growth risks.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Fetal Medicine
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Intrauterine growth is a critical indicator of fetal well-being.
- Accurate assessment of fetal growth is essential for identifying at-risk pregnancies.
- Established postnatal growth curves provide a benchmark for fetal development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop normal ultrasonic fetal weight, length, and ponderal index curves.
- To correlate antenatal ultrasonic measurements with postnatal growth data.
- To establish the utility of antenatal fetal growth assessment for identifying at-risk pregnancies.
Main Methods:
- Serial ultrasonic measurements of biparietal diameter (BPD), femur length (FL), and abdominal circumference (AC) were performed.
- Data were collected from 241 normal, low-risk obstetric patients.
- Ultrasonic measurements were used to construct fetal weight, length, and ponderal index curves.
Main Results:
- Normal ultrasonic fetal weight and length curves were successfully constructed.
- The antenatal data showed good correlation with established postnatal weight and length curves after 28 weeks of gestation.
- Fetal ponderal index curves derived from ultrasound were comparable to postnatal curves.
Conclusions:
- Antenatal ultrasonography provides reliable estimations of fetal weight, length, and ponderal index.
- These ultrasonic growth parameters can be effectively used to evaluate pregnancies for altered fetal growth.
- Ultrasonic fetal growth assessment is a valuable tool for risk identification in obstetric care.
Abstract:
Intrauterine growth was studied by serial ultrasonic measurements of biparietal diameter (BPD), femur length (FL) and abdominal circumference (AC) in 241 normal low risk obstetric patients. These measurements were used to construct normal ultrasonic fetal weight and length curve. The data correlate well with the already established, postnatal weight and length curves after 28 weeks of gestation. The fetal ponderal index curve was compared with postnatal ponderal index curves available. Antenatal recognition of fetal weight, length and ponderal index can be used to evaluate pregnancies at risk for altered fetal growth.