A CO-RELATIONAL STUDY BETWEEN GESTATIONAL AGE ESTIMATION BY ULTRASOUND (GA USG) AND POST-NATAL FOOT-LENGTH

Dr. Subhopriya Chakraborty; Dr. Madhur Pantola; Dr. Mahendra Pandey; Dr. Debarshi Jana

Volume : IX, Issue : IV, April - 2020

A CO-RELATIONAL STUDY BETWEEN GESTATIONAL AGE ESTIMATION BY ULTRASOUND (GA USG) AND POST-NATAL FOOT-LENGTH

Dr. Subhopriya Chakraborty, Dr. Madhur Pantola, Dr. Mahendra Pandey, Dr. Debarshi Jana

Abstract :

INTRODUCTION : Gestational age (GA) estimation, is a critical factor, in decision making in Pre–term care, Prognostication and Follow–up of the new–born. Unfortunately, in developing & resource restricted countries like, INDIA, in the absence of routine abdominal ultrasound, gestational age estimation is done by Ballard�s score and Last menstrual period (LMP) dating, both of which are well predictive, but not accurate. In sick babies scoring becomes hazardous and difficult to estimate gestational age. AIM: The aim of this Co–relational, Observational study, was to determine whether postnatal foot length measurement, compared with Ultrasound, Ballard�s score,could accurately determine Gestational age in neonates studied at, Durgapur steel plant hospital, West–Bengal, India. MATERIALS &METHODS: A VERNIER CALLIPER is used to accurately measure the foot–length (mid–point of heel to longest toe) INCLUSION CRITERION– babies born <24 hours of life; AGA (Appropriate for gestational age);USG done <12 weeks. EXCLUSION CRITERION– SGA(Small for gestational age);LGA(Large for gestational age); congenital anomalies,obvious disproportionate foot. RESULTS: A foot length GA model (FL–model) has been constructed by Regression, and plotted on a graph, to independently predict Gestational agefrom Post–natal Foot length. The curve obtained, on regression was denoted by, Gestational age in weeks = [(0.365 * Foot length in mm) +9.6] A sample test value of size 20, who has been randomly selected from the master sheet, has been tested on this regression model (FL–model). The Differential error between Foot–length predicted gestational age (Fl–model) and GA USG is 1.5%; The Differential error between Foot–length predicted gestational age (Fl–model) and GALMP is 2.1%; The Differential error between Foot–length predicted gestational age (Fl–model) and GA Ballard is 2.3%. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study was done at a hospital in Eastern India. The male: female ratio of the study population was 49:51 . This study was done in 200 newborns. If this study is done in a bigger sample size, it could lead to a Foot length model, that can be used with high accuracy to determine the Gestational age in a population, where there is poor utilization of antenatal ultrasound.