RESUMO
Objective: to determine the prevalence of polyhydramnios and its association with fetal congenital anomalies, with comparative measurements of amniotic fluid volume [AFV] using different sonographic techniques
Materials and Methods: this prospective study was done in King Faisal Armed Forces Hospital, Southern Region, Saudi Arabia. One hundred and seventeen patients between 20 and 41 weeks of singleton gestations with fetal congenital anomalies were recruited for the study. Ultrasound was solely used for the detection of fetal anomalies and measurements of AFV. The polyhydramnios was categorised into two groups; mild [>95[th] 97.5[th] percentile] from the normative scale of different techniques
Results: the association of polyhydramnios groups of modified amniotic fluid index [MAFI], amniotic fluid index [AFI] and maximum vertical pocket [MVP] with the fetal congenital malformations were 35 [29.9%], 29 [24.8%] and 27 [23.1%] respectively. The MAFI detected 17.1% cases of mild group and 82.9% cases of severe polyhydramnios. Twenty- nine [82.9%] patients had severe polyhydramnios with congenital defects; predominantly the central nervous system [CNS], gastrointestinal tract, multiple system defects, and others. Only CNS abnormalities had a comparatively greater prevalence [51.4%]. There were significant statistical differences between polyhydramnios and normal fluid groups [p<0.001]
Conclusion: ultrasonography accurately evaluates pregnancy complicated by polyhydramnios and has prognostic implications. Cases with congenital anomalies have higher rates of severe polyhydramnios prejudice alarming for the obstetrician for possible CNS and gastrointestinal tract abnormalities