The role of antepartum transabdominal amnioinfusion in the management of oligohydramnios in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of transabdominal amnioinfusion in the management of oligohydramnios with the view to improving pregnancy outcome.

METHODS: The study consisted of a retrospective analysis of 17 pregnant women presenting with oligohydramnios who were treated with amnioinfusion during pregnancy in a period from 2003 to 2006.

RESULTS: The mean gestational age at first treatment was 24 weeks. The mean pre-procedure deepest pool of amniotic fluid was 1.8 cm and post-procedure was 3.8 cm. The mean number of infusions was 1.05. The mean first infusion to delivery interval was 31 days. Perinatal mortality was 88% and neonatal mortality was 35%, with only one baby surviving the neonatal period. There were three cases of chorioamnionitis, with one of these cases presenting with premature rupture of the membranes at the time of amnioinfusion.

CONCLUSIONS: Transabdominal amnioinfusion is a useful procedure to reduce complications that result from oligohydramnios. Although the results show a high perinatal mortality, it must be borne in mind that most of these pregnancies had multiple fetal abnormalities with an already predicted poor outcome. Importantly, as this procedure increases the latency period, it may be useful in preterm pregnancies where prolonging the duration of the pregnancy may result in better perinatal outcome by improving important factors that influence survival including increased birthweight.