ULTRASONIC PREDICTION OF FETAL MACROSOMIA IN DIABETIC-PATIENTS

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  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 60  (2) , 159-162
Abstract
Traumatic morbidity in the newborn of a diabetic mother occurs in 3-9% of vaginal deliveries in diabetic pregnancies. Prediction of diabetic macrosomia by ultrasound measurement of chest diameter and biparietal diameter is evaluated. A macrosomia index was calculated for 70 diabetic pregnancies by subtracting the biparietal diameter from the chest diameter. A total of 23 macrosomic infants (weight > 4000 g) were delivered. Of the infants weighing > 4000 g, 20/23 (87%) had a chest-biparietal diameter of .gtoreq. 1.4 cm. There were 4 cases of shoulder dystocia in 15 patients delivered vaginally. Caesarean section for all fetuses with a chest-biparietal diameter of .gtoreq. 1.4 cm would have reduced the incidence of traumatic morbidity from 27 to 9%.