Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 19, 2025
07:34
Fetal Mouse Cardiovascular Imaging Using a High-frequency Ultrasound 30/45MHZ System
Published on: May 5, 2018
11.8K
Risk factors for mortality and severe morbidity in fetuses with normal late third-trimester scan: population-based
E D'Alberti1,2,3, S Dockree1, M Garbagnati1,2
1Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK.
Summary
Identifying antepartum risk factors for fetal mortality and severe morbidity is challenging in pregnancies without ultrasound evidence of small-for-gestational age (SGA) or fetal growth restriction (FGR). Ultrasound’s role in reducing adverse outcomes at term is limited in these cases.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Perinatal Medicine
- Fetal Medicine
Background:
- Late third-trimester ultrasound scans are used to assess fetal well-being.
- Identifying pregnancies at risk for adverse outcomes, such as fetal mortality or severe morbidity, is crucial for timely intervention.
- Small-for-gestational age (SGA) and fetal growth restriction (FGR) are known risk factors, but risk factors in their absence are less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify antepartum risk factors for fetal or neonatal mortality and severe morbidity.
- To investigate these risks in pregnancies with no ultrasound evidence of SGA or FGR during a universal late third-trimester scan.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective population-based cohort study of singleton, non-anomalous term pregnancies.
- Included 40,169 pregnancies over 7 years, excluding those with SGA or FGR.
- Analyzed clinical, demographic, and ultrasonographic factors for stillbirth, severe composite adverse outcome, and severe SGA.
Main Results:
- Pre-eclampsia was associated with stillbirth (OR, 4.46).
- Pre-existing diabetes and nulliparity were associated with severe composite adverse outcome.
- Ultrasound measures of fetal growth did not show a significant association with stillbirth in this cohort.
Conclusions:
- Predicting mortality and severe morbidity in fetuses without ultrasound-detected SGA/FGR is difficult.
- The utility of ultrasound in further reducing adverse outcomes at term in these specific pregnancies appears limited.
