Comparison of Maternal and Foetal Outcome between Normal and Abnormal Amniotic Fluid Index in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy - A Longitudinal Analytical Study in A Tertiary Level Medical College of Suburban West Bengal, India

Background: Amniotic fluid (AF) is the protective liquid present in the amniotic sac of a gravid uterus. Amniotic fluid has nutritive, protective and diagnostic functions. Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI) is most popular and reliable method for quantifying amniotic fluid, till date. AFI is one of the major parameters of foetal biophysical profile (BPP) that can predict perinatal and maternal outcomes. Periodical scanning of foetus is utmost essential during antenatal visits, especially in high-risk pregnancies, but there is no definite standard protocol regarding its frequency.Methods: This study was conducted in the department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, College of Medicine & JNM Hospital, Kalyani, Nadia, India. This longitudinal analytical study included 356 patients, among whom 151 (42.4%) were in oligohydramnios group, 174 (48.9%) in normal group and 31 (8.7%) in polyhydramnios group.Results: The data revealed oligohydramnios was strongly associated with caesarean section (p = 0.0010). In oligohydramnios group, IUGR was found in 37 (24.5%) patients (p = 0.0297). Meconium-stained liquor was almost similar in all three categories i.e. 15 (10.0%) in oligohydramnios group, 18 (10.3%) in normal group and 5 (16.1%) in polyhydramnios group, respectively. There was higher SNCU admission among babies delivered by mothers with oligohydramnios (p = 0.0369). There was no statistically significant difference in 1 and 5 minutes APGAR scores among normal and abnormal AFI groups. Conclusions: It was inferred that LSCS, IUGR baby and SNCU admission rates were more in oligohydramnios group compared to other categories. The perinatal death was 3.3% with oligohydramnios compared to 1.7% with normal liqour. The results from this study emphasize on the importance of AFI among the various means of antepartum surveillance and predictors of foetal outcome. Keywords: Oligohydramnios, Polyhydramnios, Foetal Outcome, IUGR, AF