DO MULTIPLE MEASUREMENTS EMPLOYING DIFFERENT ULTRASONIC TECHNIQUES IMPROVE THE ACCURACY OF AMNIOTIC-FLUID VOLUME ASSESSMENT

This investigation was undertaken to determine if the accuracy of the ultrasound assessment of abnormal amniotic fluid volume (oligohydramni os or polyhydramnios) is improved by employing multiple sonographic am niotic fluid measurements. Four ultrasound techniques consisting of th e subjective assessment (ultrasonic visualization without measurement) , largest vertical pocket, amniotic fluid index and 2-diameter pocket technique were performed followed by amniocentesis and dye-dilution co nfirmation of amniotic fluid volume in 66 singleton pregnancies. The u ltrasound accuracy to detect abnormal amniotic fluid volume ranged fro m 61% with the largest vertical pocket to 70% with the 2-diameter pock et procedure used separately. Receiver operator characteristic curves demonstrated that combining the 4 ultrasonic measurements did not impr ove the accuracy of identifying amniotic fluid volumes.