ROUTINE ULTRASOUND FOR DETECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE SMALL-FOR-GESTATIONAL-AGE FETUS

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 64  (1) , 101-107
Abstract
Serial ultrasound scanning was used routinely in 1687 private patients to detect small-for-gestational-age infants, twins, congenital anomalies, placenta previa and errors in gestational age estimates. A control population of 8350 private patients was scanned only when indicated. Of the small-for-gestational-age infants, 23% were detected in the control subjects, while routine scanning increased the detection rate to 57% (P = 0.0007). A high rate of false positive results were found. Of the routinely scanned population, 17% were at risk for small-for-gestatinal-age, but only 6% of those actually were small. Despite the increased detection of small-for-gestational-age infants in the routinely scanned population, no significant difference between the routinely scanned and the selectively scanned small-for-gestational-age patients could be shown in the areas of stillborns (6%), neonatal deaths (4%), perinatal mortality (10%), low 1-min (27%) or 5-min (7%) Apgar-scores, cesarean section rate (22%), mean gestational age at birth (38.8 wk) or weight (257 g below the tenth percentile). This occurred despite the aggressive use of maternal bedrest, correction of risk factors, serial scans, nonstress testing and early delivery when indicated.

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