Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
3
pubmed:dateCreated
1988-10-18
pubmed:abstractText
Postterm antenatal fetal surveillance has traditionally begun at 42 completed weeks of gestation. However, recent data have shown that a significant percentage of cases of perinatal asphyxia occurs between 40 and 42 weeks of gestation. We compared the perinatal outcome of fetuses with antenatal surveillance beginning at 41 weeks to those starting at 42 weeks of gestation. The study groups consisted of 908 patients who began antenatal testing at 41 weeks and 352 who began testing at 42 weeks. Antenatal testing consisted of twice-weekly amniotic fluid assessments and nonstress tests (including evaluation for late and variable decelerations). Between 41 and 42 weeks, the group whose testing started at 41 weeks had an overall incidence of intrapartum fetal distress of 2.7%, no stillbirths, and no infants with major neonatal morbidity. Patients without antenatal testing who delivered between 41 to 42 weeks did not have a significantly increased incidence of fetal distress (3.3%; p = 0.07). However, this group had a significantly increased incidence of adverse outcomes (p less than 0.05), including three stillbirths and seven cases of major neonatal morbidity. Beyond 42 weeks, the group whose testing started at 41 weeks had a 2.3% overall incidence of fetal distress. This was significantly less (p less than 0.01) than the group whose testing started at 42 weeks (5.6%). Neither of the groups had any stillbirths or infants with major neonatal morbidity. These findings suggest that starting antenatal testing at 41 weeks of gestation may result in decreased postterm perinatal mortality and morbidity as well as a decreased incidence of intrapartum fetal distress.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Sep
pubmed:issn
0002-9378
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
159
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
550-4
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1988
pubmed:articleTitle
The efficacy of starting postterm antenatal testing at 41 weeks as compared with 42 weeks of gestational age.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article