Amniotic fluid

Normal & abnormal

Dr. Abdalla H. Alsadig MD

IMPORTANT TOPICS

Amniotic fluid function Clinical importance of AF Volume and composition Amniotic fluid abnormalities

Amniotic fluid function:

Allow room for fetal growth, movement and development. Ingestion into GIT growth and maturation. Fetal pulmonary development (20 weeks). Protects the fetus from trauma. Maintains temperature. Contains antibacterial activity. Aids dilatation of the cervix during labour.

Clinical importance of AF:

Screening for fetal malformation (serum -fetoprotien). Assessment of fetal well-being (amniotic fluid index). Assessment of fetal lung maturity (L/S ratio). Diagnosis and follow up of labour. Diagnosis of PROM (ferning test).

Amniotic fluid formation and composition:

First & early second trimester :

Amount is 5-50 ml & arises from: - ultrafiltrate of Maternal plasma through the vascularized uterine decidua (in early pregnancy). - Transudation of fetal plasma through the fetal skin & umbilical cord (up to 20 weeks' gestation).

* It is iso-osmolar with fetal & maternal plasma, though it is devoid of proteins.

Volume and composition

From 20 weeks up to term (mainly - fetal urine): At 18th week, the fetus voids 7-14ml/day; at term fetal kidneys secretes 600-700ml of urine/day into AF. - Fetal respiratory tract secretes 250ml/day into AF. - Fluid transfers across the placenta. - Fetal oro-nasal secretions. Secretion is controlled by: - Fetal swallowing at term removes 500ml/day. - Reabsorption into maternal plasma (osmotic gradient). AF constituents: - urea, creatinine & uric acid + desquamated fetal cells, vernix, lanugo hair & others hypo-osmolar amniotic fluid.

Amniotic fluid volume :

About 500 mls enter and leave the amniotic sac each hour. gradual up to 36 weeks to around 600 to 1000 ml then after that. The normal range is wide but the approximate volumes are: - 500 ml at 18 weeks - 800 ml at 34 weeks. - 600 ml at term.

Amniotic fluid volume assessment

Clinical assessment is unreliable. Objective assessment depends on U/S to measure: - deepest vertical pool (DVP). - Amniotic fluid index (AFI). It is a total of the DVPs in each four quadrants of the uterus. it is a more sensitive indicator of AFV throughout pregnancy.

Amniotic fluid abnormalities

Oligohydramnios: Defined as reduced amniotic fluid i.e. amniotic fluid

index of 5 cm or less or the deepest vertical pool < 2 cm.

Polyhydramnios: Defined as excessive amount of amniotic fluid of 2000 ml or more (AFI of > 25 cm or the deepest vertical pool of > 8 cm) .

Causes of oligohydramnios:
1. Fetal causes: * Renal cause (57%): - Renal agenesis (Potters syndrome). - polycystic kidney. - Urethral obstruction (atresia/posterior urethral valve). * Fetal growth restriction. * Fetal death. * Postterm pregnancy. * Preterm premature rupture membranes

Causes of oligohydramnios:
2. Maternal causes: Uteroplacental insufficiency. Preeclampsia. 3. Placental causes: twin-twin transfusion. 4. Drug causes: Prostaglandin synthase inhibitor as NSAID.

5. Idiopathic

Complications of oligohydramnios:
In early pregnancy: Amniotic adhesions or bands amputation/death. Pressure deformities (club feet). Pulmonary hypoplasia: - Thoracic compression. - No breathing movement. - No amniotic fluid retain. Flattened face. Postural deformities.

In late pregnancy: Fetal growth restriction. Placental abruption. Preterm labour. Fetal distress. Fetal death. Meconium aspiration. Labour induction/CS.

Oligohydramnios:
Diagnosis:

> date. - AF I < 5CM , DVP < 2.

- Fundal
-

IUGR: abdominal circumference < 10th centile. Doppler abnormalities Congenital fetal anomalies. Treat the cause (pprom, preeclampsia). Assess fatal wellbeing (U/S/CTG/Doppler/BPP). Vesicoamniotic shunting (urethral obstruction). Amnioinfusion (no in fetal death).

Management:
-

Polyhydramnios

Polyhydramnios
types

1. Mild hydramnios (80%):

a pocket of amniotic fluid measuring 8 to 11 cm.

2. moderate hydramnios (15%):

a pocket of amniotic fluid measuring 12 to 15 cm.

3. Severe hydramnios (5%) - twin-twin transfusion

syndrome :
a pocket of amniotic fluid measuring 16 cm or more.

Causes of polyhydramnios
Fetal malformation: - GIT: esophageal/duodenal atresia, tracheoesophageal fistula. - CNS: anencephaly (swallowing, exposed meninges, no antidiuretic hormone). Twin-twin transfusion fetal polyuria.

Hydrops fetalis: congestive heart failure, severe anaemia or hypoproteinemia placental transudation

diabetes mellitus (osmotic diuresis). Idiopathic.

diagnosis of polyhydramnios
Symptoms: - dyspnea. - edema. - abdominal distention - preterm labour. Abdominal examination: - uterus than expected. - difficult to palpate fetal parts. - difficult to hear fetal heart sound. - ballotable fetus.

Ultrasound: - excessive amniotic fluid. - fetal abnormalities.

management
Minor degrees: no treatment. Bed rest, diuretics, water and salt restriction: ineffective. Hospitalization: dyspnea, abdominal pain or difficult ambulation. Endomethacin therapy: . - impairs lung liquid production/enhances absorption. - fluid movement across fetal membranes. * complications: premature closure of ductus arteriosus, impairment of renal function, and cerebral vasoconstriction. So not used after 35 weeks Amniocentesis: to relieve maternal distress and to test for fetal lung maturity. Complications: ruptured membrane, chorioamnionitis, placental abruption, preterm labour.