Prenatal Amnioinfusion as a Diagnostic Tool in Severe Oligo- and Anhydramnios: A Retrospective Single-Center Experience with Descriptive Perinatal Outcomes

TL;DR

This study examines how amnioinfusion helps diagnose severe low amniotic fluid cases and reports on pregnancy outcomes without making causal claims.

Contribution

The study provides descriptive insights into the diagnostic utility and outcomes of antepartum amnioinfusion in severe amniotic fluid deficiency.

Findings

Amnioinfusion improved sonographic visualization in most cases.

Pregnancy prolongation was observed in some subgroups.

Common causes included preterm rupture of membranes and fetal growth restriction.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic utility of antepartum amnioinfusion in cases of severe oligo- and anhydramnios and to descriptively report perinatal outcomes. Methods: This retrospective single-center study analyzed all antepartum amnioinfusions performed between 2009 and 2024 in pregnancies between 16 + 0 and 34 + 0 weeks of gestation. The primary endpoint was diagnostic impact following amnioinfusion. Secondary endpoints were descriptive perinatal outcomes. No inferential statistical analyses were performed. Results: A total of 37 amnioinfusions were performed in 31 patients. Median gestational age at first amnioinfusion was 22 ± 4.3 weeks, with a mean infusion volume of 259 ± 59.4 mL. The most frequent etiologies were preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PROM, 29%), fetal growth restriction (FGR, 25.8%), and urogenital malformations (22.6%). Amnioinfusion improved sonographic visualization and diagnostic assessment in the majority of cases. Pregnancy prolongation was observed in selected subgroups; however, causal inference regarding therapeutic efficacy cannot be drawn. Conclusions: Antepartum amnioinfusion represents a valuable adjunct for prenatal diagnostic evaluation in severe oligo- and anhydramnios. Observed perinatal outcomes should be interpreted descriptively. Further prospective, controlled studies are required to define the role of amnioinfusion beyond diagnostic feasibility.

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