Pregnancy Outcome in Women Having Oligohydramnios in Gandaki Medical College Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal

Background: Amniotic fluid index is one of the most commonly used methods of amniotic fluid volume assessment and is a predictor of adverse maternal and perinatal outcome. Objectives: To compare the maternal and perinatal outcome in women with singleton term pregnancies having amniotic fluid index (AFI) ≤5 cm to those having AFI ≥5 to 20 cm. Methods: This is a prospective, case-control study which was conducted at Gandaki Medical College Teaching Hospital over a period of one year from July 2017 to July 2018. It included 60 pregnant women at term pregnancy with amniotic fluid index ≤5 cm. The control group included 60 pregnant women at term pregnancy with amniotic fluid index ≥5 cm. The two groups were compared. Statistical analysis was done using the Chi-square test to calculate the P- value. Results: There was a significantly higher incidence of overall cesarean rates due to fetal distress, low birth weight babies and adverse neonatal outcome like 5 minute Apgar score ≤7, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission rates, and meconium aspiration syndrome in the group with oligohydramnios as compared to the group with normal liquor volume. Conclusion: Oligohydramnios adversely affects the perinatal outcome. However a favorable outcome can be expected by good antenatal and intrapartum surveillance and neonatal care.