The Use of Ultrasound to Identify Fetuses with Macrosoomia in Diabetic Pregnancies

Abstract

Diabetic pregnancies are associated with an increased incidence of fetal macrosomia. Prenatal detection of macrosomia is particularly important because of the potential maternal and neonatal morbidity associated with vaginal delivery. Early detection of macrosomia enables the clinician to decease the risk of morbidityeby either fprearing for complications associated with vaginal delivery or changing the timing or route of delivery. M acrosomia is suspected with an estimated faetalweight greate than or eqal to 4,000 g. Two; methods are:used to predict: fetal birth weight The first method is clinical evaluation,:which is based on abdominal palpation of fetal parts and fundatl: size. AThe second metho dis by sonogr aphic examinanon, which is based onfetal biparietal' diameter, abdominal circumferee, and femur length, which are then. plugged into a regression equation to calculat fetal: weight. Clinical techn ques do not relably predict fetal weight. Although ultrasound i's not particularly accurate at determining fetal wiht, it is more reliable than cliniali technique. Ultrasound therefore plays a major role in i;early detectio of m acrsoma. Current research valuates altering or Oexpandingthe use of ultrasound to more accurately-predict macrosomia in infants of diabetic mothers.