Outcomes From Polyhydramnios With Normal Ultrasound

Area of Science:

• Perinatal Medicine
• Pediatric Outcomes
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Background:

• Polyhydramnios, defined as an amniotic fluid index (AFI) >24 cm, can complicate pregnancies.
• Normal detailed ultrasound examinations do not always rule out adverse fetal outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the short- and long-term outcomes in children born after pregnancies complicated by polyhydramnios.
• To compare outcomes between children with and without polyhydramnios, despite normal prenatal ultrasound findings.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study compared 134 children (aged 4-9 years) with pregnancy-related polyhydramnios and normal ultrasounds to 268 matched controls.
• Outcomes assessed included postnatal malformations, obstetrics complications, genetic syndromes, and neurodevelopment.

Main Results:

• Polyhydramnios was linked to a higher rate of cesarean delivery and fetal birth weight above the 90th percentile.
• Increased risks were observed for congenital malformations (19% vs 10%), genetic syndromes (3.7% vs 0.75%), and neurologic disorders/developmental delay (9.7% vs 3%).

Conclusions:

• Polyhydramnios, even with a normal detailed ultrasound, is associated with a higher incidence of fetal malformations, genetic syndromes, and neurodevelopmental issues.
• These conditions may only be identified after birth, highlighting the need for continued monitoring.