Fetal kidney measurement - additional biometric parameter for accurate gestational age assessment.

OBJECTIVES: Ultrasound examination - recommended in the prenatal period - allows for an assessment of fetal anatomy and well-being and for monitoring its growth trend. Determining gestational age is important in monitoring the developing fetus. Research is increasingly being conducted in search of further biometric components that may improve ultrasound techniques in terms of predicting the gestational age. It should be noted that a fairly large number of publications focus on the accessibility of fetal kidneys to diagnostic imaging during routine ultrasound examination. The reported study was an attempt to answer the question whether fetal kidney dimensions correlated with gestational age. The obtained results are presented as fetal kidney normograms for particular weeks of gestation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study covered by dissertation was conducted among patients hospitalized at the Provincial Specialist Hospital in Zgierz, Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Endoscopic Therapy, in the period from 1st April 2019 to 30th November 2019. The study group included patients in a single pregnancy. The control group was not included in the study. The ultrasound examinations, which are the basis of the study, were carried out using the PHILIPS Affiniti 70 ultrasound device, with a frequency of 3.5 MHz transabdominal transducer. All data were subjected to statistical analysis using the Statistica 13.1 program. CONCLUSIONS: Kidney dimensions strongly correlated with gestational age. Fetal kidney growth was a linear process in normal pregnancy. Fetal kidney measurements can provide additional biometric parameters for accurate gestational age assessment.

[Fetal echocardiography in 83 fetuses with omphalocele from Dept. for Diagnoses and Prevention of Fetal Malformations, Research Institute Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital, and Medical University of Lodz, (1999-2006)]. / Znaczenie badania echokardiograficznego w przepuklinie pepowinowej (Pp) u 83 plodów w materiale Zakladu Diagnostyki i Profilaktyki Wad Wrodzonych ICZMP i Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Lodzi w latach 1999-2006.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: It was a retrospective analysis of fetal echocardiography results (analysis of congenital heart defect (CHD) and functional abnormalities in normal heart anatomy) in 83 fetuses diagnosed and treated in the same institution. RESULTS: In our group of fetuses, the most common structural defect, in addition to omphalocele, proved to be CHD. In the group of omphalocele, normal heart anatomy and functional abnormalities (tricuspid regurgitation, myocardial hypertrophy, arrhythmias), the hospital stay was longer comparing to the group of omphalocele, normal heart anatomy and normal heart study (t-test p = 0.005). CHD was a bad prognostic factor and most fetuses/newborns did not survive (Chi-square 0.0005, Fisher test 0.000032). In the group of omphalocele and normal heart anatomy based on fetal echocardiography, the survival rate was 70%. The omphalocele and CHD survivors (n=3) had been only those who did not require a cardiac surgery in first month of postnatal life. CONCLUSION: Echocardiography exam of fetus with omphalocele and CHD and functional abnormalities has diagnostic and prognostic value.