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The Realities of Screening for the Small for Dates Fetus Using Ultrasound Measurement
Author(s) -
Duff G. B.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.1986.tb01542.x
Subject(s) - medicine , fetus , cardiotocography , obstetrics , ultrasound , percentile , gestation , ultrasonography , perinatal mortality , fetal death , pregnancy , surgery , biology , radiology , statistics , genetics , mathematics
EDITORIAL COMMENT: This study stresses that only a proportion of small for dates fetuses suffer intrauterine starvation, and questions the value of routine screening with ultrasound for their indentification. We agree that not all small for dates fetuses are at risk, and on the other hand, many at risk of intrauterine hypoxia and death are not by definition growth retarded. To recognize and treat the fetus with intrauterine starvation, tests for fetoplacental function (oestriol assay, cardiotocography) are necessary and are complementary to, not competitive with, ultrasonography. Summary: Screening for the small for dates fetus using ultrasound measurement of the fetal abdominal circumference resulted in a significantly increased rate of diagnosis compared with clinical examination. However, when the perinatal mortality and morbidity amongst infants with a birthweight less than the 10th percentile for gestation in the screened group was compared with that of similar infants in a nonscreened groups who attended the same antenatal clinic but who either booked or were referred late, there was no significant difference.