Investigation of the Association of Pre-eclampsia with Oligohydramnios using Ultrasound in Pregnant Women during 32-36 Weeks of Gestation : A Cross Sectional Study

Association of Pre-eclampsia with Oligohydramnios

Abstract

Background: Pre-eclampsia is a significant cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity. Oligohydramnios, marked by reduced amniotic fluid volume, is a critical obstetric condition that can complicate pregnancies with pre-eclampsia, leading to adverse fetal outcomes.

Objective: To determine the association between pre-eclampsia and oligohydramnios in pregnant women during 32-36 weeks of gestation using ultrasound.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Lahore Ultrasound Clinic, involving 245 pregnant women. Inclusion criteria included women in their third trimester with diagnosed oligohydramnios. Ultrasound was used to measure the amniotic fluid index (AFI) and echogenicity. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0, with descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to assess correlations between hypertension, AFI, and echogenicity. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Of the 245 participants, 30.2% had hypertension, and 77% of those had oligohydramnios (p=0.002). Highly echogenic amniotic fluid was observed in 15.9%, significantly associated with oligohydramnios (p=0.0451).

Conclusion: Oligohydramnios is significantly associated with pre-eclampsia and increased fetal morbidity, necessitating close fetal monitoring and timely interventions. Clinical audits are essential for ensuring high-quality healthcare delivery, especially in surgical settings. Operation theater notes in urological surgeries are crucial for patient safety, postoperative care, and medico-legal purposes. However, their quality is often suboptimal.

Keywords: Pre-eclampsia, oligohydramnios, amniotic fluid index, fetal morbidity, gestational hypertension, ultrasound, pregnancy complications, maternal health