"Does severity of isolated oligohydramnios at term matter?"

Area of Science:

• Perinatal medicine
• Maternal-fetal medicine
• Obstetrics

Background:

• Oligohydramnios, a condition of low amniotic fluid, can impact pregnancy outcomes.
• The severity of isolated oligohydramnios at term requires further investigation regarding its association with perinatal complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between the severity of isolated oligohydramnios at term and adverse perinatal outcomes.
• To inform clinical management strategies for isolated oligohydramnios.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study including women with isolated oligohydramnios (Amniotic Fluid Index [AFI] ≤ 5 cm) at 37-42 weeks gestation.
• Exclusion of maternal comorbidities, fetal anomalies, and other risk factors.
• Categorization into severe (AFI ≤ 2 cm) and mild (AFI 2.1-5.0 cm) groups; primary outcome was a composite of adverse perinatal events.

Main Results:

• Of 29,759 deliveries, 432 (1.5%) had isolated oligohydramnios (66 severe, 366 mild).
• Adverse perinatal outcomes were significantly higher in the severe group (22.7%) versus the mild group (12.8%; p=0.039).
• Severe oligohydramnios independently predicted adverse outcomes (adjusted OR: 1.96; 95% CI: 1.09-3.779; p=0.044).

Conclusions:

• Severe isolated oligohydramnios at term is associated with a nearly twofold increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes.
• Findings highlight the need for enhanced monitoring and prompt delivery planning in severe cases of term isolated oligohydramnios.