Is antenatal ultrasound useful in predicting neonatal outcome?

The objective of this study was to determine if an ultra-sound examination, when performed in the third trimester immediately preceding delivery, is useful in predicting outcome in infants with a myelomeningocele. A retrospective review was undertaken of prenatal ultrasound records and pediatric outcome data on fetuses with isolated myelomeningocele referred to our institution after 28 weeks' gestation during a three-year period. Macrocephaly proved to be the one antenatal ultrasound finding that most correlated with later poor outcomes in infants with myelomeningocele.

Macrocephalic fetuses had a longer mean hospital stay after birth and were more likely to have significant respiratory and feeding difficulties. No fetus with macrocephaly had a normal mental score, and all had severe motor deficits on later follow-up testing. The ultrasound diagnosis of macrocephaly identified a group of fetuses with myelomeningocele, who were at highest risk of neonatal problems and developmental ... more.

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