A Comparison of Clinical and Ultrasound Estimation
of Fetal Weight
VITAYA TITAPANT, M.D.*,
SAIFON CHA WANPAIBOON, M.D.*,
KUDKANANG MINGMITPATANAKUL, M.D.*
Affiliation : * Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok
10700, Thailand.
AbstractThe accuracy of clinical and ultrasound estimation of fetal weight was compared by an
analytical cross sectional study. 266 pregnant women who were admitted to the labour room, Siriraj
Hospital during the period from February 1, 1999 to March 1, 1999 were included in this study. Fetal
weight was estimated in all pregnant women clinically by 2nd year resident physicians and 6'h year
medical students, followed by ultrasound estimation within 24 hours before delivery. Every esti-
mation was blinded from each other. From the study, clinical estimation by 2nd year resident phy-
sicians was comparable with ultrasound estimation and both were significantly more accurate than
estimation by 6'h year medical students. The proportions of accuracy were 66.7 per cent, 63.3 per cent
and 55.3 per cent respectively. Clinical estimation by 2•d year resident physicians tended to have
equally over- and underestimation. On the contrary, ultrasound estimation tended to underestimate
when the method was inaccurate. Among infants with a birth weight less than 2,500 grams, ultra-
sound estimation performed slightly better than clinical estimation. However, every method under-
estimated the fetal weight when an infant weighed more than 4,000 grams. In conclusion, accuracy
of clinical estimation of fetal weight by 2nd year resident physicians was comparable to that of
ultrasound estimation and may be used as an alternative to ultrasound estimation for pregnant
women. However, when the clinical estimate of fetal weight is less than 2,500 grams, ultrasound
estimation should be performed for more accurate results and also for assessment of other abnor-
malities. Careful attention should be paid to infants with a birth weight of more than 4,000 grams
since no method can correctly estimate the fetal weight and physicians should be aware of birth
trauma.
Keywords : Estimation of Fetal Weight, Clinical Estimation, Ultrasound Estimation, Fetal Weight
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