Antepartum prophylactic transabdominal amnioinfusion in preterm pregnancies complicated by oligohydramnios.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of amnioinfusion in preterm pregnancies with oligohydramnios.

METHOD: 29 women between 23 and 35 weeks' gestation were enrolled in the study. Transabdominal amnioinfusion was performed in 15 pregnancies, 14 patients were managed expectantly. The latency period and perinatal outcome of both groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U-test and chi(2)-test.

RESULT: The amniotic fluid index significantly increased from a median value of 6 to 11 cm (P<0.0001) in the amnioinfusion group after amnioinfusion. The latency period of the amnioinfusion group was significantly longer (median 15 vs. 8 days P<0.05). Gestational week of the amnioinfusion group was earlier on admission (median 30.6 vs. 33.4 weeks, P=0.01) but at delivery this diversity disappeared (median 33.4 vs. 34.8 weeks, P=0.10). The perinatal outcomes of the two groups were similar.

CONCLUSION: Transabdominal amnioinfusion prolongs the latency period and improves perinatal outcome in preterm pregnancies complicated by oligohydramnios.