PRENATAL-DIAGNOSIS, ITS POTENTIAL IMPACT ON THE PREVALENCE AND MANAGEMENT OF CONGENITAL-ANOMALIES

Objective: To study the potential impact of prenatal diagnosis on the prevalence and pattern of major congenital anomalies, over a period of five years, at King Abudulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah. Setting: Fetal Medicine and Nursery Units. Subjects and method: All live born n eonates admitted to the nursery with a diagnosis of congenital malform ations as well as fetal anomalies diagnosed during prenatal ultrasound examination. Results: Among live born neonates, the prevalence of mal formations was 1.83% (n=218). When cases diagnosed in the Fetal Medici ne Unit were included, the figure went up to 2.0% (n=261). Anomalies o f the CNS (26.9%) ranked first followed by CVS (16.0%), Chromosomal ab errations (12.4%), and other anomalies in variable order. Although the overall rate of fetal anomalies among our population was more or less similar to that published in similar studies, their pattern of distri bution was different. Conclusion: Epidemiological studies on congenita l malformation, based only on data from live born babies do not reflec t either the true prevalence rate nor its distribution pattern in a gi ven population. The value of prenatal diagnosis is no more confined to termination of affected pregnancies, but has an important role in pla nning the best circumstances: for delivery that provide the optimum ch ance for fetal survival with minimal maternal morbidity.