TY - JOUR
T1 - Clinical estimation of fetal weight
T2 - Is accuracy acquired with professional experience?
AU - Levin, Ishai
AU - Gamzu, Ronni
AU - Buchman, Vladimir
AU - Skornick Rapaport, Avital
AU - Pauzner, David
AU - Lessing, Joseph B.
AU - Almog, Benny
PY - 2011/6
Y1 - 2011/6
N2 - Objective: This study was conducted in order to determine whether experience and type of obstetrical profession improves the accuracy in the clinical estimation of fetal weight among obstetricians and midwives in the delivery room. Methods: Four groups of professionals in the delivery room clinically estimated the fetal weight in 236 parturients in active labor. Obstetric parameters such as gravidity, parity, gestational age, body mass index, amniotomy, station and cervical dilatation were recorded. Fetal weight estimations were compared with the actual birth weight after delivery. Results: The mean error rate of fetal weight estimation by attending obstetricians, residents, experienced and junior midwives was 7.9 ± 8.8, 8.0 ± 8.4, 7.8 ± 6.3 and 8.5 ± 6.8%, respectively. Error rates of the 4 groups of examiners were similar, although it was increased in all subgroups when estimating birth weights <2,500 and >4,000 g. Major discrepancies of fetal weight estimation (>10% of the actual fetal birth weight) occurred in 27.2, 28.9, 31.9 and 34.7% by attending obstetricians, residents, experienced and junior midwives, respectively. Conclusions: We found no additional value for experience and type of obstetrical training in the accuracy of clinical fetal weight estimation.
AB - Objective: This study was conducted in order to determine whether experience and type of obstetrical profession improves the accuracy in the clinical estimation of fetal weight among obstetricians and midwives in the delivery room. Methods: Four groups of professionals in the delivery room clinically estimated the fetal weight in 236 parturients in active labor. Obstetric parameters such as gravidity, parity, gestational age, body mass index, amniotomy, station and cervical dilatation were recorded. Fetal weight estimations were compared with the actual birth weight after delivery. Results: The mean error rate of fetal weight estimation by attending obstetricians, residents, experienced and junior midwives was 7.9 ± 8.8, 8.0 ± 8.4, 7.8 ± 6.3 and 8.5 ± 6.8%, respectively. Error rates of the 4 groups of examiners were similar, although it was increased in all subgroups when estimating birth weights <2,500 and >4,000 g. Major discrepancies of fetal weight estimation (>10% of the actual fetal birth weight) occurred in 27.2, 28.9, 31.9 and 34.7% by attending obstetricians, residents, experienced and junior midwives, respectively. Conclusions: We found no additional value for experience and type of obstetrical training in the accuracy of clinical fetal weight estimation.
KW - Fetal weight estimation
KW - Professional experience
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79959324413&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1159/000323149
DO - 10.1159/000323149
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AN - SCOPUS:79959324413
SN - 1015-3837
VL - 29
SP - 321
EP - 324
JO - Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy
JF - Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy
IS - 4
ER -
