Frequency, Causes and Outcome of Polyhydramnios

Background: Polyhydramnios is an important obstetric complication. This study was conducted to determine its frequency, common causes and the perinatal outcome. Material & Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted in Gynae B Unit, Women and Children Hospital Abbottabad, conducted from January to December 2001. History, clinical examination and relevant investigations were carried out. Results: During the study period 3500 patients needed admission in our obstetric ward, among them 70(2%) patients had polyhydramnios. Period of gestation ranged from 30-36 weeks. Age range was 20-35 years (average 27). Among these 15(21.43%) patients were primigravida, 40(57.14%) multigravida and 15(21.43%) grand multigravida. In 35(50%) patients no etiology could be identified. In 20(28.5%) patients there were different congenital abnormalities in the fetus. In 6(8.5%) patients pregnancy was complicated by twin gestation. In 6(8.5%) patients fetuses were hydropic, while gestational diabetes was responsible for 3(4.2%) cases. Total births were 76, among which 56(73.68%) were alive and 20(26.32%) still born. There were 4(5.26%) early neonatal deaths and the main cause for it was prematurity. Conclusion: Polyhydramnios occurs in 2% of admitted obstetric cases. It is more common in multigravida. In 50% cases the cause could not be identified. Peri-natal mortality occurred in 32% cases. Key word: Polyhydramnios, Pregnancy, Perinatal mortality.