Correlation of Symphysio Fundal Height, Abdominal Girth and Ultrasound with Gestational Age

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the gestational age by using symphysio fundal height and abdominal girth and to correlate with USG gestational age. The simplest way to determine gestational age is to examine the mother by palpating the abdomen and estimating the size of her uterus compared with a landmark such as umbilicus. Measuring symphysio fundal height and abdominal girth can be used as a sensitive indicator in estimating the gestational age. Methods: About 180 women were enrolled in this prospective population based observational study, who were attending Saveetha Medical College and Hospital Obstetric OPD and the gestational age was estimated by measuring symphysio fundal height abdominal girth and correlating it with ultrasound finding. Result: About 80.52% of gestational age found by symphysio fundal height correlated with the gestational age found by LMP and 77.73% of gestational age found by symphysio fundal height correlated with gestational age found by USG. About 72% of the gestational age estimated by abdominal girth correlated with the gestational age found by LMP and 66.57% of gestational age found by abdominal girth correlated with gestational age found by USG. About 19.479% of gestational age determined by symphysio fundal height did not correlate with gestational age found by LMP; they were further evaluated by USG to find the accuracy and the cause. The USG results showed the following- 4.5% were having low growth profile, 5.8% were found to have intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), 7.97% had macrsomia due to gestational diabetes and 1.2% was polyhydramnios. Even the USG findings in cases not correlating with abdominal girth the same reasons were obtained in 19.479% and the remaining 8.52% among the 72% of gestational age found by abdominal girth not correlating with LMP were found to be false positive. Conclusion: SFH was found to have high sensitivity in estimating the gestational age when compared to gestational age estimated by abdominal girth, even in the presence of USG and hence it can be used as a good indicator in low setting areas.