Objective: Our purpose was to assess whether antepartum oligohydramnios is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes.
Study design: Women delivered between July 1, 1991, and September 30, 1996, who underwent ultrasonography at >/=34 weeks' gestation were analyzed. Oligohydramnios was defined as an amniotic fluid index </=50 mm. Perinatal outcomes in pregnancies with oligohydramnios were compared with those with an amniotic fluid index of >50 mm.
Results: In our analysis of 6423 pregnancies, 147 (2.3%) were complicated by oligohydramnios. This complication was associated with increased labor induction (42% vs 18%; P <.001), stillbirth (1. 4% vs 0.3%; P <.03), nonreassuring fetal heart rate (48% vs 39%; P <. 03), admission to the neonatal intensive care nursery (7% vs 2%; P <. 001), meconium aspiration syndrome (1% vs 0.1%; P <.001), and neonatal death (5% vs 0.3%; P <.001).
Conclusion: Antepartum oligohydramnios is associated with increased perinatal morbidity and mortality.