AFI IN PREGNANT PATIENTS;

DOES DEHYDRATION LEAD TO DECREASE IN QUETTA REGION OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: Amniotic fluid plays major role in fetal growth & development.
Abnormalities of fluid volume can affect fetal development causing many structural anomalies.
Maternal dehydration leads to changes in amniotic fluid index by changing net movement of fluid
into or from the fetus. Study Design: Cross sectional study was carried out to asses increase
incidence of reduced amniotic fluid index in Quetta due to dehydration. Period: Year of 2015.
Method: The study was a cross sectional study for this purpose 50 pregnant patients referring
to obstetric Out Patient Department of Combined Military Hospital Quetta were investigated
for changes (improvement, or no change) in amniotic fluid index after hydration therapy. The
under studied population was pregnant women between 20th_ 38th week of gestation referring
to obstetric Out Patient Department of Combined Military Hospital Quetta with amniotic index
less than 10.The study was conducted after approval of ethical committee. Result: Patients
showed significant improvement in AFI after hydration therapy. Conclusion: QUETTA region,
a combination of dry and cold weather leads to decrease fluid intake and greater insensible
losses that results in reduced AFI. Increased incidence of reduced AFI is highly due to maternal
dehydration that can be improved with maternal hydration.