Oligohydramnios

Oligohydramnios
Classification and external resources
Specialty	obstetrics
ICD-10	O41.0
ICD-9-CM	658.0
DiseasesDB	9202
eMedicine	radio/898
Patient UK	Oligohydramnios
MeSH	D016104
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Oligohydramnios is a condition in pregnancy characterized by a deficiency of amniotic fluid. It is the opposite of polyhydramnios.

The common clinical features are smaller symphysiofundal height, fetal malpresentation, undue prominence of fetal parts and reduced amount of amniotic fluid.

The cause is not known but is often associated with some:

Complications may include cord compression, musculoskeletal abnormalities such as facial distortion and clubfoot, pulmonary hypoplasia and intrauterine growth restriction. Amnion nodosum is frequently also present (nodules on the fetal surface of the amnion).

The use of oligohydramnios as a predictor of gestational complications is controversial.

Potter syndrome is a condition caused by oligohydramnios. Affected fetuses develop pulmonary hypoplasia, limb deformities, and characteristic facies. Bilateral agenesis of the fetal kidneys is the most common cause due to the lack of fetal urine.

A Cochrane Review concluded that "simple maternal hydration appears to increase amniotic fluid volume and may be beneficial in the management of oligohydramnios and prevention of oligohydramnios during labour or prior to external cephalic version."

In severe cases oligohydramnios may be treated with amnioinfusion during labor to prevent umbilical cord compression. There is uncertainty about the procedure's safety and efficacy, and it is recommended that it should only be performed in centres specialising in invasive fetal medicine and in the context of a multidisciplinary team.

In case of congenital lower urinary tract obstruction, fetal surgery seems to improve survival, according to a randomized yet small study.

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Wikipedia