European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Background: In the diagnosis and treatment of macrosomia, which is related to
birth pain, asphyxia, and maternal morbidity, estimating foetal weight may be
critical.Fetal abdominal subcutaneous tissue thickness (FASTT) is one such
ultrasound parameter that is an independent consideration in predicting big
babies and can estimate foetal weight for high for gestational age babies when
substantiated with other ultrasound parameters.The aim of this study was to
determine the importance of using ultrasonography to measure subcutaneous
tissue thickness in predicting foetal birth weight.
Patients and methods: This prospective observationl study included 276 pregnant
women at term admitted to the obstetric ward and scheduled for elective Cesarean
section or induction of labor or during labor. Ultrasonographic evaluation was
done immediate before delivery for measurement of the thickness of the
subcutaneous fat tissue at the anterior abdominal wall was done three times and the
average was taken. Ultrasonic estimation of fetalweight , actual birth weight
immediately after delivery by a neonatologist in the delivery room using (SECA
digital medical weighing) and the thickness of the subcutaneous fat tissue were
recorded.
Results:FASTTand birth weight were found to have a positive association. A
responsive measure to predict large babies is the FASTT of 6.85 mm. The FASTT
test is not accurate enough to estimate the birth weight of small babies weighing
less than 2500 grammes.
Conclusion:Along with other established birth weight markers, FASTT may be used
as a secondary predictor to forecast big for gestational age infants.