Prenatal diagnosis of intrauterine growth retardation in Villa Clara

Abstract

In trauterine growth retardation is associated with a significant increase in perinatal mortality and long term morbidity. In recent years, a n increase in low birth weight due to intrauterine growth retardation has been observed in Villa Clara. A descriptive, prospective and longitudinal study was carried out at the Mariana Grajales Obstetrics and Gynecology University Hospital in Villa Clara during the years 2008-2009, with the aim of determining how a diagnosis is made and what factors have influenced this. The sample was formed by 269 living and dead fetuses with birth weight below the 10 percentile P10. The charts of Dueñas et al were used to achieve the objectives; as well as the delivery registry, the pregnant card and the obstetric and neonatal medical records. The results showed fetal growth retardation with an incidence of 2.7% in the years of study. Prenatal diagnosis was made only in 49.4% of cases, due to the absence of demonstrable clinical and ultrasound data, and also due to incomplete studies before delivery in other cases. The default discrepancy of symphysis-fundal height on the clinical signs and the measurement of the biparietal diameter, the abdominal circumference and the estimated weigh among the pathological parameters as ultrasound measurements, showed the highest sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis. It is still necessary a further use of the clinical method, screening, for example, and obstetric ultrasound for an accurate diagnosis of intrauterine growth retardation in our environment.