Ultrasonographic Estimation of Fetal Weight

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Abstract
Objective. Ultrasonographic imaging is considered an objective means for fetal weight estimation. The goals of this study were to determine the accuracy of ultrasonographic estimates of fetal weight performed by residents in training and to ascertain how rapidly the residents gained proficiency in this regard. Methods. A total of 300 ultrasonographic estimates of fetal weight and corresponding birth weight were collected and stratified into 4 groups by the level of residents' experience, from level 1 (inexperienced, with 2 test. Results. Significant increases in the accuracy of ultrasonographic estimates of fetal weight were observed with advancing levels of resident experience (P < .0001). Overall, 30.6% of ultrasonographic estimates of fetal weight fell within 5% of birth weight, and 60.6% fell within 10%. Among the least experienced residents (Conclusions. There is a learning curve for ultrasonographic estimates of fetal weight, with a significant decrease in the percent error seen with advancing training among residents, reaching acceptable levels of more than 70% of estimates within 10% of birth weight after 24 months of ultrasonographic experience.