[Oligohydramnios--perinatal complications and diseases in mother and child]

In our study, complications of oligohydramnios were examined. In medical records of all 5,210 deliveries of our department between 1987 and 1990 181 cases of oligohydramnios were identified. The diagnosis was confirmed by ultrasound and based on the method described by Mannings and Platt: amniotic fluid depots of less than 1 cm were defined as oligohydramnios. All 181 cases met the above definition, which results in an incidence of 3.5% pregnancies with reduced amniotic fluid. We examined the records of mother and foetus, the delivery and perinatal complications and follow-up of the newborn. In more than 60%, foetal asphyxia, breech position and other anomalies during delivery were followed by Cesarean section or vaginal operative delivery by forceps or vacuum extraction. In 30 cases, oligohydramnios was caused by premature rupture of membranes. In the other cases, the diagnosis based on maternal or foetal complications such as gestosis (n = 7), abruptio placentae (n = 10), foetal growth retardation (n = 47) and malformations or chromosomal anomalies. 89 newborn were transferred to a paediatric hospital immediately after delivery. Potter's syndrome was the main anticipated diagnosed malformation (n = 20). The lack of amniotic fluid was furthermore followed by a higher rate of pulmonary complications such as RDS and hypoplasia of the neonatal lung (n = 21). In conclusion, our study underlines the fact, that oligohydramnios must be regarded as an important reason of high risk pregnancy followed by many complications for foetus and newborn. The incidence of perinatal mortality in our examination was 7.2%. This rate is 10 fold higher than in the total number of deliveries of our department.