OBSTETRIC OUTCOME IN UNCOMPLICATED PROLONGED PREGNANCY

Objective: To study and compare the obstetric outcome in term pregnanc ies and uncomplicated prolonged pregnancies. Methods: The study was a retrospective review of 596 cases. The case notes of 286 patients with uncomplicated prolonged pregnancies (greater than or equal to 42 week s) and 310 patients with normal term pregnancies (37 to < 42 weeks) we re analyzed. The Gold Stat package was used for statistical coding and analysis. Results: There was no fetal morbidity or mortality among th e two groups. However, the number of previous abortions were significa ntly higher in prolonged pregnancies compared with term pregnancies. S imilarly, fetal and placental weights, labor induction and operative d elivery rates were significantly higher in prolonged pregnancies. Howe ver, there were no significant differences between the patients who we re induced and those who had spontaneous labor among the prolonged pre gnancies. Conclusions: There is no doubt that prolonged pregnancy may be associated with certain risks factors. However, there is no outcome variable to justify whether or not to induce those pregnancies which are prolonged. Copyright (C) 1996 International Federation of Gynecolo gy and Obstetrics.