2ND-TRIMESTER ECHOGENIC SMALL-BOWEL - AN INCREASED RISK FOR ADVERSE PERINATAL OUTCOME

2267 singleton fetuses who had one ultrasound examination between 15 a nd 21 weeks' gestation were prospectively evaluated for echogenic smal l bowel. Thirty-two cases of echogenic small bowel were detected-a pre valence of 1.4 per cent. Echogenic fetal small bowel was divided into two grades. grade 1, where the small bowel was more echogenic than the liver; and grade 2, where the small bowel had the echogenicity of bon e. In contrast to 19/23 fetuses with grade 1 small bowel echogenicity, only 2/9 fetuses with grade 2 echogenic bowel had a normal pregnancy outcome (Fisher's exact test; P less than or equal to 0.01). Complicat ions associated with second-trimester echogenic small bowel included i n utero cytomegalovirus infection, second-trimester growth restriction , intrauterine fetal demise, and chromosomal abnormalities. Second-tri mester fetal echogenic small bowel is associated with an increased ris k of an adverse outcome. The prevalence of perinatal and neonatal comp lications is significantly greater when small bowel echogenicity appro aches that of bone.