Death and severe morbidity in isolated periviable small-for-gestational-age fetuses

This study aims to predict perinatal death or severe sequelae in isolated small-for-gestational-age fetuses, diagnosed at a periviable gestational age, based on ultrasound and Doppler parameters at diagnosis.

Observational study.

A tertiary perinatal centre.

A cohort of singleton non-malformed fetuses suspected to be small for gestational age (estimated fetal weight, EFW, <10th centile) diagnosed at 22.0-25.6 weeks of gestation. The following parameters were recorded at diagnosis: severe smallness (<3rd centile); absent or reversed end-diastolic velocity in umbilical artery; abnormal middle cerebral artery Doppler; abnormal cerebroplacental ratio; abnormal uterine artery Doppler; and absent or reversed end-diastolic velocity in the ductus venosus.

Logistic regression analysis.

Predictive performance of EFW and Doppler parameters for short-term adverse outcome of perinatal morbimortality and composite serious adverse outcomes (death, neurological impairment or severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia).

A total of 155 pregnancies were included. There were 13 (8.4%) intrauterine and 11 (7.7%) neonatal deaths. A short-term adverse perinatal outcome occurred in 40 (25.8%) pregnancies. There were 31 (20%) cases of serious adverse outcomes. For the prediction of serious adverse outcomes, the combination of absent or reversed end-diastolic velocity in the umbilical artery and impaired middle cerebral artery detected by Doppler evaluation achieved a detection rate of 87%, with a false-positive rate of 14% (accuracy 86%).

In periviable isolated small-for-gestational-age fetuses, a Doppler evaluation of the umbilical and fetal brain circulation can accurately predict short-term adverse perinatal complications and serious adverse outcomes.