Yolk sac size and shape, gestational sac diameter, and embryonic heart rate as prognostic factors of first-trimester pregnancy outcomes

Abstract

BackgroundYolk sac first appears at ~5 weeks of gestation and is visualized by ultrasound and along with embryonic heart rate can be used as prognostic factors for first-trimester pregnancy outcomes.AimTo evaluate the correlation between each of the ultrasound parameters that were assessed in the first trimester (the gestational sac size, yolk sac size and shape, and embryonic heart rate) and early pregnancy loss and to correlate between different ultrasound parameters with each other.Patients and methodsThis randomized prospective controlled study included 250 pregnant women with singleton pregnancies during the first trimester from 6 to 8 weeks at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and LogiqP3 at the Department of Radiology of Kotor Central Hospital and Chison at Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of Menofia University.ResultsIrregular-shaped yolk sac proved to be an important prognostic factor in pregnancy outcome in our study. In the pregnancies that resulted in normal first trimester, there was a significant association between crown-rump length (CRL) and mean gestational sac diameter (P < 0.001) and mean yolk sac diameter (P < 0.001).ConclusionMeasurement of gestational sac diameter, CRL, and fetal heart rate in combination provides a better prediction of the prognosis of the first trimester than when either parameter is used alone.