Placental study and gestational age- a cross sectional study

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Original Article

Author Details : Sudakshina Chakrabarti, Gunapriya Raghunath, Vijayalakshmi S, Shilpakala LB

Volume : 4, Issue : 3, Year : 2017

Article Page : 396-399

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Abstract

Introduction: The placenta is a fetal organ with important metabolic, endocrine and immunologic functions besides being responsible for nutrition, respiration and excretion for the fetus. With advances in grey scale and Doppler sonography presently the most effective method to date pregnancy is by ultrasound. Placental thickness measured at the level of insertion of umbilical cord can be used as a parameter to estimate gestational age. The thickness, diameter and volume of the placenta appears to be of prognostic value in identifying the subsequent occurrence of fetal growth restriction.
Aim: To determine gestational age of fetus by using placental thickness as sonographic parameter and determine the correlation of the placental thickness to gestational age.
Objectives: To use placental thickness as a parameter to determine gestational age.
To correlate the placental thickness to the LMP derived and ultrasound derived gestational age using fetal parameters.
To determine subnormal placental thickness for the corresponding gestational age.
Materials and Method: 250 singleton normal pregnant women (10-40weeks of gestation) attending antenatal OPD whose gestational age was determined by LMP method were included in this study. On ultrasound examination the placental thickness was measured at insertion of umbilical cord. The data were collected and tabulated for analysis.
Results: The gestational age increased by 1.054 week per unit increase in the placental thickness. Based on correlation coefficient it was determined that nearly 94% of change in GA was determined by the placental thickness. This study showed a strong and significant positive correlation between placental thickness and gestational age. Correlation coefficient between PT and GA overall in 3 trimesters is 0.96.
Conclusion: Placental thickness can be considered as an important sonographic parameter to determine gestational age as concluded by this study.

Keywords: Placental thickness, Gestational age, Ultrasound

How to cite : Chakrabarti S, Raghunath G, Vijayalakshmi S, Shilpakala Lb, Placental study and gestational age- a cross sectional study. Indian J Clin Anat Physiol 2017;4(3):396-399

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