Amniotic fluid volume (AFV) is one of the important parameters in the assessment of fetal well-being. The ability of ultrasound measurements to represent the actual AFV is unproven. This study was undertaken to compare correlation of conventional amniotic fluid index (AFI) and radial amniotic fluid index (RAFI) as a new method with actual fluid volume on phantom. As an experimental study, 10 to 100 ml of water with 5 ml intervals was injected to a rubber bladder as a uterus phantom containing a 15 week gestational age fetus. The vertical diameter was measured in largest fluid pouch at each quadrant. Four diameters were summed as conventional AFI. The largest radial diameter perpendicular to uterus and fetus was measured at four quadrants and were summed as RAFI. Databases were analyzed based on correlation and regression methods. RAFI and conventional AFI predicted 91.6% and 65% of variations of fluid volume, respectively (P < 0.001). In conclusion, RAFI is more accurate and reliable than conventional AFI in the prediction of injected fluid volume.      

Background: Normal amniotic fluid predicts normal placental function, fetal growth and fetal well-being. Objective: To determine adverse pregnancy outcomes in borderline amniotic fluid index (AFI). Materials and Methods: Pregnant women (37-40 wks) with diagnosis of borderline AFI between December 2012 and August 2014 were identified. Antepartum, intrapartum and neonatal data were collected and compared with those of pregnant women with normal AFI. An AFI less than 8 and more than 5 cm was defined for borderline AFI. Pregnancy outcomes included Cesarean section for non-reassuring fetal heart rate, meconium stained amniotic fluid, 5-min Apgar score <7, low birth weight, umbilical cord blood pH at term and NICU admission. Results: Gestational age at delivery in pregnancies with borderline AFI was significantly lower than normal AFI. Cesarean section rate for non-reassuring fetal heart rate in women of borderline AFI was significantly higher and there was an increased incidence of birth weight less than 10PthP percentile for gestation age in borderline AFI group. Incidence of low Apgar score and low umbilical artery pH in pregnancies with borderline AFI was significantly higher than women with normal AFI. There were no significant difference in the rate of NICU admission and meconium staining in both groups. Conclusion: There are significant differences for adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as Cesarean section due to non-reassuring fetal heart rate, birth weight less than 10PthP percentile for gestation age, low 5 min Apgar score and low umbilical artery pH between pregnancies with borderline and normal AFI.

Background: Amniotic fluid is an indicator of placental function on the fetal development. The amniotic fluid index is the most commonly used method of measuring amniotic fluid.Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the pregnancy outcomes of a borderline versus normal AFI.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on a total of 235 pregnant women referred to Alzahra Medical Center between 2009-2011. Women with a singleton pregnancy in third trimester were enrolled into this study; of these subjects, 141 cases were in normal AFI group and 94 cases in borderline AFI group. Adequate information was obtained from the patients' medical record and the groups were compared on maternal and fetal complications. Data analysis was performed by using SPSS.Results: The mean maternal age in borderline AFI group was 25.96±5.92 years and in normal AFI group was 27.88±6.5 years (p=0.023). Maternal outcomes such as preterm delivery and labor induction in women with borderline AFI were considerably higher than those in normal group (p=0.01 and p=0.001). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of high blood pressure, preeclampsia, diabetes and neonatal respiratory distress. The borderline AFI group had higher rate of neonatal complications such as Apgar score of less than 7 (p=0.004), IUGR (0.0001), LBW (0.001), and crucial need to NICU (0.003).Conclusion: Findings indicated that there are statistical differences between adverse outcomes in borderline AFI group and normal group.

Objective: The outcomes and management of low amniotic fluid index (AFI) in pregnancy are controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between low AFI and perinatal outcomes. Materials and methods: This prospective study was conducted on 420 uncomplicated singleton pregnant women with a gestational age of over 28 weeks who referred to Al-Zahra Hospital in Rasht (Iran) for routine perinatal care. Pregnant women were divided into 3 groups of 140 patients based on the AFI and were followed up until delivery. Three groups included normal (8

Background/Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the normal values of amniotic fluid index (AFI) at different gestational ages among a group of Iranian women. Patients and Methods: The four-quadrant sum of amniotic fluid pockets, AFI, was studied in 489 normal pregnant women with 20-42 weeks of gestational age. Those with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ultrasonographically detectable anomalies, premature rupture of membranes, intra-uterine growth retardation, and any known fetal abnormalities were excluded from the study. The mean 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 95th percentiles of AFI for each gestational age were calculated. Results: The mean-(±SD) gestational age of the pregnant women studied was 31.46±6.1 (range: 20-41) weeks. The mean-(±SD) AFI was 13.26±4.59 (range: 5.1-26.1) cm. The mean (±SD) AFI was 12.1±1.6 cm (Confidence Interval 95%: 8.9–15.3) at the 20th week, increased to 14.6±1.2 cm (Cl95%: 12.2–17) at the 27th week, which then declined to 10.9±1.2 (Cl95%: 8.5–13.3) at the 41st week. Conclusion: Our study determined the curve of normal values of AFI for each gestational age and the upper and lower normal limits in a group of Iranian women.