Faculty Bibliography

The ultrasonically determined growth of the fetal liver during normal pregnancy is presented. The normal range of fetal liver sizes for each week of pregnancy from 20 weeks' gestation to term was determined. A linear relationship between fetal liver and abdominal circumference measurements also is described. Value and potential applications of this new fetal parameter are discussed.

Reported is the case of a patient who presented in labor with a fetal heart rate tracing that showed repetitive variable decelerations. Time lapse between presentation and delivery was minimized by the ultrasound confirmation of a nuchal cord. Delivery by cesarean section was elected rather than making further attempts at maternal repositioning.

A pregnancy, complicated by hypophosphatemic familial rickets (vitamin D-resistant rickets) of a female fetus, associated with atrial flutter and congestive heart failure is presented. Upon review of the literature, only 22 cases of fetal atrial flutter have been reported. The association between hypophosphatemic familial rickets and atrial flutter has not yet been described.

A pregnancy complicated by cyanotic heart disease due to single ventricle was recently managed at the authors's institution. Review of the literature showed only five previous case reports. The management of this uncommon disorder is presented along with a review of the literature. The presence of pulmonary hypertension appears to be a major determinant in assessing maternal risk.

A linear relationship between the ultrasound fetal femur length and the crown-heel length of the fetus is described. The formula for calculating the fetal length in centimeters was found to be 6.18 + 0.59 x femur length in millimeters. The value and potential uses of the calculated length of the fetus are discussed.

Six fetal biophysical variables--the nonstress test, fetal movements, fetal breathing movements, fetal tone, amniotic fluid volume, and placental grading (biophysical profile)--were assessed in 150 high-risk pregnancies during a 30-minute observation period. The predictive value of the nonstress test alone, biophysical scoring, and contraction stress test alone in the identification of the healthy fetus as well as the fetus in jeopardy are discussed. The relationships between individual variables and combinations of variables to the outcome of pregnancy, as reflected by abnormal intrapartum fetal heart rate patterns, meconium during labor, fetal distress, and perinatal mortality rate were determined. The biophysical profile of all hypoxic fetuses was analyzed. These data suggest that the biophysical profile is more accurate in the identification of the hypoxic fetus than any other single method; therefore, a new protocol including the biophysical profile for antepartum fetal evaluation is presented.