Nonimmune fetal ascites: identification of ultrasound findings predictive of perinatal death
-
Felipe Baccega
,
Vera Lúcia Jornada Krebs
Abstract
Aim: To determine the ultrasonographic findings that predict death in fetal ascites.
Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study involving pregnancies with ultrasonographic findings related to fetal ascites. The inclusion criteria were as follows: single pregnancy with a live fetus; ultrasound findings of ascites; ascites unrelated to maternal fetal alloimmunization; and pregnancy follow-up at our institution. The χ2-test was used to evaluate the association of ultrasound findings and death. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the ultrasound findings that are predictive of death prior to hospital discharge.
Results: A total of 154 pregnancies were included in the study. In 8 (5.19%) cases, ascites was an isolated finding, and in 146 cases, other alterations were observed during the ultrasound evaluation. Death before hospital discharge occurred in 117 cases (76.00%). The following ultrasonographic findings were significantly associated with death: gestational age at diagnosis <24 weeks (P<0.0001); stable/progressive ascites evolution (P=0.004); the presence of hydrops (P<0.0001); and the presence of cystic hygroma (P<0.0001). The presence of hydrops, the presence of respiratory tract malformations, and stable/progressive ascites evolution were significantly associated with the prediction of death.
Conclusions: Based on ultrasound examination, the presence of hydrops, malformation of the respiratory tract, and stable/progressive evolution of ascites increase the chances of death in cases of fetal ascites.
Acknowledgments
Felipe Bacega received a scientific initiation scholarship from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico-CNPq (PIBIC-149030/2013-4).
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The authors stated that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article.
©2016 by De Gruyter
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- Congress Calendar
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- Current topics on ultrasound in perinatology
- Recommendation and Guidelines for Perinatal Practice
- Ultrasound in Africa: what can really be done?
- 3D/4D sonography – any safety problem
- Controversial ultrasound findings in mid trimester pregnancy. Evidence based approach
- Academy’s Corner
- Sonoembryology by 3D HDlive silhouette ultrasound – what is added by the “see-through fashion”?
- Original articles – Obstetrics
- How effective is ultrasound-based screening for trisomy 18 without the addition of biochemistry at the time of late first trimester?
- Single center experience in selective feticide in high-order multiple pregnancy: clinical and ethical issues
- Diagnostic accuracy of cervical elastography in predicting labor induction success: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Birth weight-related percentiles of brain ventricular system as a tool for assessment of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus and ventricular enlargement
- First trimester erythropoietin (EPO) serum concentration as a potential marker for abnormal placentation disorders. Reference values for erythropoietin (EPO) concentration at 11–13+6 weeks of gestation
- Original articles – Fetus
- Nonimmune fetal ascites: identification of ultrasound findings predictive of perinatal death
- First trimester severe ductus venosus flow abnormalities in isolation or combination with other markers of aneuploidy and fetal anomalies
- Evaluation of the adequacy of reference charts for the accurate identification of fetuses with bone length below the 5th percentile
- Does ethnicity have an effect on fetal behavior? A comparison of Asian and Caucasian populations
- Accuracy of ultrasound in estimating fetal weight and growth discordancy in triplet pregnancies
- Fetal nasal bone length in the second trimester: comparison between population groups from different ethnic origins
- Pregnancy outcome and long-term follow-up of fetuses with isolated increased NT: a retrospective cohort study
- Effect of antenatal betamethasone administration on Doppler velocimetry of fetal and uteroplacental vessels: a prospective study
- Opinion paper
- Fetal cerebro-placental ratio and adverse perinatal outcome: systematic review and meta-analysis of the association and diagnostic performance
- Congress Calendar
- Congress Calendar
