Abstract Background and Aim: The aim of antepartum fetal surveillance is to identify fetus at increased risk of harm. Amniotic fluid volume has been proved an indirect measure of fetoplacental function and hence the estimation of amniotic fluid volume assists in risk assessment by application of dynamic ultrasonographic methods. Of the various semiquantitative methods the four quadrant technique provides a fetal convenient method for evaluating amniotic fluid volume. Materials and Methods: This was a comparative, nonrandomized study done over a period of 18 monthson 100 women with the gestational age of 34 to 42 weeks. They are divided on amniotic fluid index done with study of umbilical artery Doppler. Results: 100 cases of complicated and uncomplicated pregnancy of term gestation are included in the study. 70 cases are booked and 30 cases are unbooked. 37cases are primigravidae, 63 cases are multigravidae. Low AFI values are most commonly associated with primigravidae and high AFI volume are associated with multigravidae. Out of 14 cases with vey low AFI 35.71% had PIH, 35.71% of post dates, 28.57% cases are IUGR. This indicates low AFI values are more commonly associated with complications like post dates, PIH, IUGR. 64.28% of cases are associated with meconium staining of liquor in low AFI values. Cesarean section rate and forceps delivery is significantly higher in patients with low AFI values. Out of 14 cases with low AFI 71.42% of cases underwent cesarean section and fetal distress is commonly associated with low AFI and is the leading indication of LSCS. Conclusion: The risks of meconium staining of liquor, intrapartum fetal distress, operative delivery and perinatal mortality significantly higher in patients with amniotic fluid values of less that 5 compared to those with amniotic fluid index ranging between 8 and 18.
Keywords: Amniotic Fluid Index; Intrapartum Fetal Distress; Perinatal Mortality