Reliability of sonographic fetal weight estimation in triplet pregnancies: a retrospective cohort study

• Published in: Archives of gynecology and obstetrics 2018-06, Vol.297 (6), p.1441-1447
• Main Authors: Pils, Sophie, Springer, Stephanie, Seemann, Rudolf, Wehrmann, Verena, Worda, Christof, Ott, Johannes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Birth weight; Birth Weight - physiology; Cohort analysis; Endocrinology; Female; Fetal Weight; Fetus - anatomy & histology; Fetus - diagnostic imaging; Gynecology; Human Genetics; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Maternal-Fetal Medicine; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Obstetrics/Perinatology/Midwifery; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Triplet; Reproducibility of Results; Retrospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Triplets; Ultrasonography, Prenatal - methods
• ISSN: 0932-0067; 1432-0711
• DOI: 10.1007/s00404-018-4746-0

Purpose To review our experience in ultrasound fetal weight estimation in our large population of triplet pregnancies. Methods Ninety-seven triplet pregnancies were retrospectively included between January 2003 and January 2017. Sonographic fetal weight estimation using Hadlock’s and Schild’s formulas was compared to actual birth weight in a tertiary-care center in Vienna, Austria. Statistical analyses were performed using a stepwise linear regression model and crosstabs. Results The median discrepancy between the sonographically estimated fetal weight by Hadlock’s formula and the actual birth weight was 106 g (IQR 56–190). The percentage error and its standard deviation were − 2.5 ± 12.1%, and the median percentage error was − 3.6%. Concerning the use of Hadlock’s formula, estimated fetal weight was the most important factor predictive of actual birth weight with an estimate of 0.920 ( p