FETO-MATERNAL OUTCOMES IN OLIGOHYDRAMNIOS DIAGNOSED IN THE THIRD TRIMESTER: A HOSPITAL-BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48047/vdq5ak23Keywords:
Oligohydramnios, Amniotic fluid index, Third trimester, Perinatal outcomeAbstract
Background: Oligohydramnios, a pathological reduction of amniotic fluid volume, is a recognised marker of the compromised fetoplacental unit and is frequently identified during routine third-trimester ultrasonography. In resource-constrained settings of South India, it remains an important antenatal finding that influences the timing and mode of delivery and is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. Objectives: To describe the sociodemographic and obstetric profile of women with third-trimester oligohydramnios and to determine the associated feto-maternal outcomes in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Methods: This hospital-based, cross-sectional, STROBE-compliant study analysed a dataset of 280 women with third-trimester oligohydramnios, defined as an amniotic fluid index (AFI) below 5 cm or a single deepest pocket below 2 cm. Sociodemographic characteristics, diagnostic profile, fetal surveillance findings, management approach, mode of delivery and neonatal outcomes were summarised using descriptive statistics. Results: The mean maternal age was 29.3 +/- 7.0 years and the mean gestational age at diagnosis was 33.9 weeks. Oligohydramnios was mild in 130 (46.4%), moderate in 100 (35.7%) and severe in 50 (17.9%). Fetal growth restriction was documented in 26.4% and abnormal umbilical artery Doppler in 33.2%. The overall caesarean rate was 42.9% (120/280), most commonly for fetal distress. Adverse neonatal findings included low birth weight (49.6%), preterm birth (39.6%), NICU admission (31.4%) and neonatal respiratory distress (15.0%). Perinatal mortality was 4.6% (13/280). Conclusion: In this cohort, third-trimester oligohydramnios was associated with a substantial burden of operative delivery and adverse neonatal outcomes, underscoring the value of structured fetal surveillance and timely delivery
Downloads
References
Moise KJ. Toward consistent terminology: assessment and reporting of amniotic fluid volume. Semin Perinatol. 2013;37(5):370-374.
Munn MB. Management of oligohydramnios in pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2011;38(2):387-395.
Shrem G, Nagawkar SS, Hallak M, Walfisch A. Isolated oligohydramnios at term as an indication for labor induction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Fetal Diagn Ther. 2016;40(3):161-173.
Bhagat M, Chawla I. Correlation of amniotic fluid index with perinatal outcome. J Obstet Gynaecol India. 2013;64(1):32-35.
Bachhav AA, Waikar M. Low amniotic fluid index at term as a predictor of adverse perinatal outcome. J Obstet Gynaecol India. 2013;64(2):120-123.
Hashimoto K, Kasdaglis T, Jain S, Atkins K, Harman CR, Baschat AA. Isolated low-normal amniotic fluid volume in the early third trimester: association with adverse perinatal outcomes. J Perinat Med. 2013;41(4):349-353.
Sahin E, Madendag Y, Tayyar AT, et al. Perinatal outcomes in uncomplicated late preterm pregnancies with borderline oligohydramnios. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2018;31(23):3085-3088.
Wood SL, Newton JM, Wang L, Lesser K. Borderline amniotic fluid index and its relation to fetal intolerance of labor: a 2-center retrospective cohort study. J Ultrasound Med. 2014;33(4):705-711.
Prado CAC, Araujo Junior E, Duarte G, Quintana SM, Tonni G, Cavalli RC, Marcolin AC. Predicting success of labor induction in singleton term pregnancies by combining maternal and ultrasound variables. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2016;29(21):3511-3518.
Kishore J, Misra R, Paisal A, Pradeep Y. Adverse reproductive outcome induced by Parvovirus B19 and TORCH infections in women with high-risk pregnancy. J Infect Dev Ctries. 2011;5(12):868-873.
Rosier-van Dunne FMF, van Wezel-Meijler G, Bakker MPS, Odendaal HJ, de Vries JIP. Fetal general movements and brain sonography in a population at risk for preterm birth. Early Hum Dev. 2010;86(2):107-111.
Morin L, Lim K. Ultrasound in twin pregnancies. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2011;33(6):643-656.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially.
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
- The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit , provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made . You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Notices:
You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation .
No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.
