construction of a standard symphysis pubis-uterine fundus distance chart for pregnant Egyptian women

A standard chart for the symphysis pubis-uterine fundus distance in 100 pregnant Egyptian women with uncomplicated pregnancies and deliveries was constructed. An early ultrasound scan was used as the reference point. Individual charts were also constructed for primipara and multipara as well as tables for women delivering of male or female babies. These charts offer a simple and practical method for screening the small for dates fetuses when used in the antenatal clinic

use of the symphysis-fundus distance chart as a screening test for the diagnosis of intrauterine growth retardation

A standard chart for the symphysis pubis-uterine fundus [S-F] distance was compared to a single ultrasound measurement of the fetal biparietal diameter [BPD] performed between 32 and 34 weeks, for the diagnosis of small for dates [SFD] and large for dates [LFD] fetuses in 100 women with high risk pregnancies. The weight of the newborn was taken as the reference point. The results showed that the S-F distance was superior to the BPD in the diagnosis of SFD babies [85.71% compared to 57.14%] as well as in the diagnosis of LFD babies [100% compared to 38.46%]. Both methods were equally accurate in diagnosing the appropriate for dates [AFD] fetuses [71.67% and 73.33%, respectively]. Both methods had a similar incidence to false positive results [17% and 18% respectively], but the BPD had a higher incidence of false negative results [20%] compared to the S-F distance method [2%]