ABSTRACT
Our purpose was to assess the value of commonly performed ultrasound parameters in
predicting neonatal outcome of fetuses with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).
One hundred twenty-seven patients were identified on ultrasound examination to have
IUGR. Estimated weight percentile, amniotic fluid volume, umbilical artery Doppler
velocimetry, and head circumference/abdominal circumference ratio were compared with
neonatal outcome. Thirty infants had severely adverse courses. The degree of growth
restriction was strongly associated with adverse outcome and neonatal death. Umbilical
artery Doppler waveforms with absent or reverse end-diastolic flow were predictive
of neonatal death, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC),
and adverse outcome in general. Oligohydramnios was predictive of adverse outcome
and neonatal death. Logistic regression also showed that absent or reverse end-diastolic
flow and oligohydramnios were independent predictors of adverse outcome. Ultrasound
findings of low estimated weight percentile, absent or reverse end-diastolic umbilical
blood flow, and oligohydramnios are independent predictors of adverse neonatal outcome
of growth restricted fetuses.
Keywords
Fetal growth retardation - prenatal ultrasonography - small for gestational age infant
- perinatal outcome
