AbstractBackground & Aim: The placenta is essential to fetal well being, growth and development. Ultrasonographic method is the best assessment method for placental evolution throughout antenatal care. Conventional 2D ultrasound has been widely used to study the evolution of placenta during pregnancy. This 2D evolution includes the assessment of the morphology and anatomy of the placenta, identification of its location and placental grading. Grannum. et al.(1979) devised systemic classification of ultrasonographic morphology of placenta based on the changes in the chorionic plate,placental substance and the basal layer, the three separate zones of placenta. Material & Methods: The present prospective comparative study is carried out on total 120 cases (59 Normal and 61 Hypertensive mothers) attending the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and radio diagnosis at padmshri. Dr. D.Y Patil medical research center, Kolhapur. Patients were scanned using Mindray DC-7 real time USG machine with a sector array 3.5 MHz frequency transducers. Patients were asked to maintain a full bladder, for obtaining a better window for USG examination. Scanning Technique- With patient in supine position, jelley was applied over the abdomen and examination was carried out. Multiple longitudinal and transverse scans are necessary to demonstrate the placenta completely. Chi-squire test was carried out for statistical analysis. Result: Placental maturity increases with gestational age in normal and high risk cases. In our study we observed hypermature placenta (Grade III) is common in hypertensive mothers. Fetal outcome is found to be directly related to severity of maternal hypertension. Conclusion: Thus, we conclude that regular monitoring of placenta in antenatal care is primary tool for fetomaternal surveillance in hypertensive pregnancies.
Keywords: USG Machine; Placental Grading; Placental Morphology; IUGR; PIH.