Clinical and ultrasonographic weight estimation in large for gestational age fetus

Zeev Weiner, Izhar Ben-Shlomo, Ronit Beck-Fruchter, Yael Goldberg, Eliezer Shalev

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

64 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To examine prospectively the effect on pregnancy outcome of a management protocol, that adds ultrasonographic weight estimation in fetuses suspected clinically as large. Study design: Prospective follow up study of all singleton deliveries during a 1 year period. All patients underwent routine clinical estimation of fetal weight. When clinical estimation of fetal weight was ≥3700g, patients were referred for ultrasonographic estimation of fetal weight. When the latter was ≥4000g the patient was informed about the risks of birth trauma. Cesarean section was recommended only when ≥4500g. Ultrasonography was repeated every 4 days when possible. Predictive values of clinical and ultrasonographic estimations of fetal weight for diagnosing macrosomia, defined for the purpose of this study as 4000g or more, and their effect on the rate of cesarean sections. Results: Five hundred fifty-five (14.4%) out of 3844 singletons were estimated as 3700g or more. Only 315 fetuses had ultrasonographic estimation of weight within 3 days of delivery. The sensitivity of clinical and ultrasonographic prediction of macrosomia was 68 and 58%, respectively. Cesarean section rate in newborns weighing 4000g or more was 22% when macrosomia was clinically suspected compared to 11% when it was not (P<0.05). In fetuses estimated ultrasonographically as 4000g or larger the cesarean section rate was doubled (50.7% versus 24.9%, P<0.05) compared to those estimated as smaller than 4000g, although actual weight of 4500g or more was recorded in 10.6 and 8.5% of these groups, respectively. There were no cases of shoulder dystocia in macrosomic babies when macrosomia was not detected by ultrasound compared to two cases of shoulder dystocia (2.7%) when macrosomia was detected by ultrasound. Conclusion: Antenatal suspicion of macrosomia increased the cesarean section rate while the associated improvement in pregnancy outcome remains questionable. The contribution of ultrasound, added to routine clinical estimation of fetal weight, was clinically insignificant apart from a further increase in cesarean section rate.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)20-24
Number of pages5
JournalEuropean Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
Volume105
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 10 Oct 2002
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cesarean section
  • Macrosomia
  • Ultrasonography

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