PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS OF FETAL INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION- IS IT POSSIBLE BEFORE 32 WEEKS?

Abstract

Background: Early prenatal diagnosis of gastro-intestinal system using ultrasonogram is challenging. However, the findings can be confirmed using fetal MRI. This study was done to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasonogram in detecting gastro-intestinal abnormalities in fetus and role of MRI in aiding the findings of ultrasonogram.
Materials and methods: a total of 19 patients suspected with fetal gastro-intestinal malformations were included in the study which was conducted by the Department of ___, College_____ over a period of 1 year.
Results: out of the 19 patients, 3 patients refused to undergo MRI scan. 37% had small bowel obstruction, 26.3% had anorectal malformations, 15.7% had esophageal malformations, 10.5% has ventral abdominal wall defects and 10.5% had diaphragmatic defects. 52.6% had delivered a live fetus, 26.3% had still births, 21 % had intrauterine death. Polyhydramnios was the most commonly found feature.
Conclusion: ultrasonogram is safe, low cost screening tool for early identification of congenital anomalies. The findings of ultrasound can be confirmed upto certain extent by fetal MRI. However, the gold standard method of analyzing is through post-natal sonogram or by autopsy.