ACCURACY OF REAL-TIME SONOGRAPHY IN DETERMINATION OF FETAL VIABILITY

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 49  (4) , 475-477
Abstract
After 8 wk of fetal age, real-time ultrasonography is a simple, rapid and highly reliable technique for differentiating a viable from a dead fetus. Fetal movements are invariably detected after 8 wk and a discrete, fluid-filled, intrathoracic pulsating heart can be seen after 11-12 wk. Absence of these findings, as observed by 2 independent examiners each viewing the fetus for 3 min with real-time sonography, provided reliable evidence of fetal demise. A prospective evaluation of 390 consecutive fetuses yielded only 1 false positive diagnosis of fetal viability. No living fetus was diagnosed as being dead.

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