Introduction and Aim: Gestational age assessment in women with indeterminate last menstrual period has always remained an enigma. Though multiple parameters have been found useful in providing an indirect age assessment, various studies have now shown that the ultrasonographic measurement of foetal kidney length during the second and third trimester of pregnancy is a viable alternative in foetal age assessment.
Methods: This prospective study was conducted among the antenatal women with singleton uncomplicated pregnancy during 18 to 40 weeks of gestation attending the outpatient department for routine ultrasound foetal biometry in a tertiary care referral institution in South India, during January 2019 to June 2019. A total of hundred and thirty-five antenatal mothers were included in this study. Data entry was done in Microsoft Excel and data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).
Results: There was a strong positive correlation between GA and MKL. Regression model (Model 1) for Mean kidney length showed significant correlation and regression models (Model 2) for MKL and routine foetal biometric parameters like biparietal diameter, femur length and abdominal circumference were found to be significantly correlated.
Conclusion: Mean foetal kidney length can alone predict gestational age and by combining it with the other biometric indices to give a better estimation of gestational age.
A Hospital Based Study in South Indian Population on the Role of Ultrasound in the Estimation of Gestational Age in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy
