Amniotic Fluid Index

Amniotic
Fluid Index

       

• Does an amniotic fluid index of £ 5 cm necessitate delivery in high pregnancies? A case control study. 
  
  EF Magann, MJ Kinsella, SP Chauhan et al
  (Naval Med Ctr, San Diego, Calif; Med College of
  Georgia, Augusta; Univ of Mississipi, Jackson)
  (1999) :  Am
  J Obstet Gynecol 180:1354-1359.

  
  
  
      
  
  Rutherford
  et al defined the AFI and indicated that an AFI of
  5cm or less served as a break point in the
  relationship between AFI and the occurrence of
  nonreactive NSD, fetal heart rate accelerations,
  meconium stained amniotic fluid, cesarean section
  for fetal distress and low Apgar score.
  
       
  
  The
  role of a low AFI in high risk pregnancies was
  reassessed. 
  Women with high risk pregnancies and an AFI
  of 5cm or less appear to have intrapartum
  complication rates comparable to those of women with
  similar high risk pregnancies and AFI of more than
  5.  
  Since 1993, 6 groups of investigators have
  found AFI of 5cm or less to be so weak a predictor
  of poor neonatal outcome as to be useless.