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

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.