Comparison Of Frequencies Of Adverse Fetal Outcomes In The Third Trimester Of Pregnancy In Females With And Without Oligohydramnios

Objective: To compare the frequencies of adverse fetal outcomes in females with and without oligohydramnios in the third trimester. Study Design: Prospective Cohort Study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi, six months (Dec 2021 to June 2022). Methodology: Sample size calculation was done by open epi calculator, with a 95% confidence interval, 80% power of the study and 41.57% anticipated frequency of meconium-stained liquor in patients with amniotic fluid index (AFI) less than 5 cm and 13.48% frequency in females with a normal volume of AFI. The calculated sample size was 80 patients. Two groups of 40 patients each were made. One group (Group A) included females diagnosed with oligohydramnios while the other (Group B) included those without oligohydramnios. Results: The mean ages of the pregnant females were 28.2±5.0 years and 28.3±4.7 years in Group A and Group B respectively. The mean gestational age of Group A was 35.3±1weeks and 36.7±0.6 of Group B. In Group A, 17(42.5%) females were primigravida and 23(57.5%) were multigravida while in Group B, 22 (55%) were primigravida and 18 (45%) were multigravida. It was observed that adverse fetal outcomes such as abnormal Cardiac topography (CTG), presence of meconium, fetal distress and low birth weight were significantly more in Group A than Group B Conclusion: Oligohydramnios is significantly associated with adverse fetal outcomes. Once diagnosed, it needs careful evaluation and fetal surveillance in the antenatal and intrapartum periods to reduce perinatal morbidity and mortality.