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Am J Perinatol 2015; 32(06): 523-530
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1396688
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Early Term versus Term Delivery in the Management of Fetal Growth Restriction: A Comparison of Two Protocols

Joshua D. Dahlke
1   Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Rhode Island
,
Hector Mendez-Figueroa
2   Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, UT Health-University of Texas Medical School, Houston, Texas
,
Lindsay Maggio
1   Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Rhode Island
,
Catherine M. Albright
1   Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Rhode Island
,
Suneet P. Chauhan
2   Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, UT Health-University of Texas Medical School, Houston, Texas
,
Katharine D. Wenstrom
1   Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Rhode Island
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

02 June 2014

22 October 2014

Publication Date:
29 December 2014 (online)

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Abstract

Objective This study aims to compare two management protocols in pregnancies diagnosed with fetal growth restriction (FGR).

Study Design All singleton pregnancies diagnosed and managed with FGR at our institution during two protocol periods were analyzed. The early term protocol (January 2008–February 2010) specified delivery at 370/7 weeks if antenatal testing was reassuring, but did not specify the timing of delivery if umbilical artery (UA) Doppler systolic:diastolic (S:D) ratios were elevated (>95th percentile for gestational age [GA]). The term protocol (March 2010–July 2012) specified delivery at 390/7 weeks with normal S:D ratios and 370/7 weeks with elevated S:D ratios when antenatal testing was reassuring.

Results There were 228 and 312 women in the early term and term protocol, respectively, who met inclusion criteria. Compared with the early term group, the term group had an increased median GA at delivery (37.1 vs. 38.6%, p < 0.001), decreased deliveries less than 370/7 weeks (37 vs. 24%, p = 0.01) and decreased neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions (38 vs. 28%, p = 0.02).

Conclusion A protocol specifying delivery at 390/7 weeks when UA S:D ratios are normal and delivery at 370/7 weeks when UA S:D ratios are elevated when other antenatal testing is reassuring in FGR: (1) prolonged gestation, (2) decreased preterm births, and (3) decreased NICU admissions.

Keywords

fetal growth restriction - intrauterine growth restriction - management - surveillance

Comment to this article:

Early Term versus Term Delivery in the Management of Fetal Growth Restriction: A Comparison of Two Protocols (Podcast)Am J Perinatol 2015; 32(06): e1-e1
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1559814

 

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