Contemporary experience of polyhydramnios: A single-centre experience

Area of Science:

• Perinatology
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Obstetrics

Background:

• Polyhydramnios is a common condition, often idiopathic but sometimes linked to fetal abnormalities.
• Existing literature is divided on whether amniotic fluid volume reliably distinguishes idiopathic from pathological polyhydramnios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the incidence of fetal anomalies in women diagnosed with polyhydramnios.
• To evaluate the role of discriminatory variables in identifying pathological polyhydramnios.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted.
• Data from singleton pregnancies diagnosed with polyhydramnios between January 2015 and 2016 were analyzed.
• Statistical analyses included Student's t-test, ANOVA, and chi-squared tests.

Main Results:

• Out of 120 cases, 36 (30%) exhibited fetal abnormalities.
• Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI) alone did not differ significantly between abnormal and normal fetuses.
• AFI normalized for estimated fetal weight (AFI/kg) was significantly higher in cases with fetal abnormalities (24.4 cm/kg vs. 16.7 cm/kg).
• Higher AFI/kg and earlier gestational diagnosis were associated with increased anomaly rates.
• The association between AFI/kg and anomalies was confounded by gestational age.

Conclusions:

• Excess amniotic fluid volume alone is not indicative of fetal abnormality.
• Earlier diagnosis and higher AFI/kg are linked to increased anomaly rates, though AFI/kg is influenced by gestational age.
• Gestational age is a key factor confounding the relationship between AFI/kg and fetal anomalies.