Serial Measurements of Fetal Head Circumference and Abdominal Circumference to Predict Fetal Growth Restriction in a Sri Lankan Study Population
Rasika S de Silva, Hemantha Perera
Citation Information :
de Silva RS, Perera H. Serial Measurements of Fetal Head Circumference and Abdominal Circumference to Predict Fetal Growth Restriction in a Sri Lankan Study Population. J South Asian Feder Obs Gynae 2021; 13 (4):202-206.
Aim and objective: Prediction of fetal growth restriction (FGR) by serial ultrasound measurement of head circumference (HC) and abdominal circumference (AC) of the fetus applied routinely to all mothers irrespective of risk status for FGR and small for gestational age.
Materials and methods: A prospective study was done of 508 pregnant women who underwent two successive growth scans 4 weeks apart at Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital, Sri Lanka. FGR was identified by graphically plotting serial fetal AC and HC. Postnatally, growth restriction was diagnosed based on ponderal index (PI). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and likelihood ratio of predicting FGR by successive serial ultrasound measurements of fetal AC and HC were calculated.
Results: Based on fetal AC and HC, FGR was present in 223 of 508 fetuses (43.89%). Based on PI, 224 of 508 (44.1%) neonates were growth-restricted. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio of predicting FGR by serial fetal AC and HC were 82.59, 86.62, 82.59%, 6.2, and 0.2, respectively.
Conclusion: Serial ultrasound measurements of fetal AC and HC plotted on a fetal growth centile chart routinely carried out in all mothers irrespective of risk status for FGR increases the detection of FGR.
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