Antenatal ultrasound diagnosis of fetal anomalies at a university hospital

ABSTRACT

Antenatal ultrasound is an essential tool for detection of fetal anomalies. Early detection of congenital anomalies can reduce the expected morbidity and mortality. To highlight the role of antenatal ultrasound in detection and characterization of fetal anomalies, and to study the incidence and distribution of congenital anomalies at King Abdulaziz University Hospital [KAUH], Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [KSA] Cross-sectional observation study. Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Fetal Medicine Unit at KAUH, Jeddah, KSA during the period 2008-2011. Antenatal ultrasound. Five thousand and thirty pregnant females were subjected to antenatal ultrasound [US] at KAUH diagnostic radiology department and fetal medicine unit from January 2008 to September 2011. The age of participating females ranged from 16 to 49 years. Data were collected and statistically analyzed using SPSS 10.0 program. Statistical significance was accepted if p-value < 0.05. The incidence of congenital anomalies. Cardiac and umbilical cord anomalies have statistically significant relation with maternal age [p-value < 0.05]. The most frequent abnormalities detected are of the brain [40.6%], the urinary system [39.4%] and the cardiovascular system [37.5%]. The high prenatal detection rates for common congenital anomalies of the CNS, cardiovascular and urinary systems are similar to those found in previous reports. Unexpectedly, abdominal anomalies were the fourth largest anomalies detected. By using more sophisticated, highly sensitive machines in addition to greater expertise, well-trained radiologists and sonographers specialized in obstetrics, more specific and early detection of different anomalies can be possible in the future