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Role of Ultrasonographic Placental Thickness in Prediction of Fetal Outcome: A Prospective Indian Study

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Abstract

Background Information

Placenta is the connecting organ between the mother and the fetus. It supplies oxygen and all the necessary elements for the growth and development of the fetus. In normal pregnancy, the growth of the placenta remains concordant with the growth of the fetus. The sonographic assessment of placenta can give information about the nutritional status of the fetus. It is known that normal placental thickness approximately equals gestational age. It is historically documented that placental weight is one-fifth of the fetal weight and abnormally thin or thick placenta is associated with increased incidence of perinatal morbidity and mortality. However, there are very few studies correlating placental thickness with Neonatal outcome.

Objectives

To correlate ultrasonographic placental thickness at 32 and 36 weeks pregnancy with neonatal outcome. To propose placental thickness as a simple test for prediction of neonatal outcome.

Methods

Placental thickness at 32 and 36 weeks was measured by ultrasound, in 130 pregnant mothers with confirmed dates and uncomplicated singleton pregnancy. Placental thickness was categorized as normal (10th–95th percentile), thin (<10th percentile) and thick (>95th percentile) at each stage and was correlated with birth weight and neonatal outcome.

Results

Neonatal outcome was good in women with normal placental thickness (10th–95th percentile) at 32 and 36 weeks and was compromised in women with thin (<10th percentile) and thick (>95th percentile) placentae.

Conclusion

Placental thickness at 32 and 36 weeks corresponds well with gestational age and is a good prognostic factor in assessing neonatal outcome. Therefore, placental thickness should be measured in addition to biometric parameters in antenatal women undergoing ultrasound.

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Abbreviations

VMMC:

Vardhman Mahavir Medical College

BMI:

Body mass index

LSCS:

Lower segment cesarean section

NICU:

Neonatal intensive care unit

PC-PNDT Act:

Pre-conception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques Act

mm:

Millimeter

CNS:

Central nervous system

ANC:

Antenatal clinic

ITP:

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi, 110029, India

    Kashika Nagpal & Pratima Mittal

  2. Department of Radiology and Vice Principal, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, 110029, India

    Shabnam Bhandari Grover

Authors
  1. Kashika Nagpal
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  2. Pratima Mittal
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  3. Shabnam Bhandari Grover
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kashika Nagpal.

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Conflict of interest

None.

Ethical Statement

Study involved human participants.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in this study.

PC-PNDT Act

PC-PNDT Act requirements were complied with for all the study subjects.

Additional information

Dr. Kashika Nagpal is a Senior Medical Officer and Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India. Dr. Pratima Mittal is a Professor and Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India. Dr. Shabnam Bhandari Grover is a Professor and Head of the Department of Radiology and Vice Principal in the Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.

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Nagpal, K., Mittal, P. & Grover, S.B. Role of Ultrasonographic Placental Thickness in Prediction of Fetal Outcome: A Prospective Indian Study. J Obstet Gynecol India 68, 349–354 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-017-1038-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-017-1038-8

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