Therapeutic amnioinfusion for oligohydramnios during pregnancy (excluding labour)
Summary
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on therapeutic amnioinfusion for oligohydramnios during pregnancy.
Description
During pregnancy, the level of amniotic fluid increases rapidly to reach a peak at about 36 weeks gestation after which time it may start to gradually decrease. Oligohydramnios is the presence of an abnormally low volume of amniotic fluid (AF) surrounding the fetus. It may be due to an excess loss of fluid or a decrease in fetal urine production or excretion. The condition can occur at any stage of pregnancy but it is most common in the last trimester.
Amnioinfusion is used to increase the volume of amniotic fluid around the fetus during pregnancy. Under ultrasonic guidance, a needle is inserted into the uterine cavity and saline or Ringer's lactate is infused until the level of amniotic fluid is normal. The procedure may be repeated if oligohydramnios recurs (serial amnioinfusion).
OPCS code:
Details
Therapeutic procedures
British Association of Perinatal Medicine
British Maternal and Fetal Medicine Society
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Contact details:
(for general enquiries or comments)
(for procedure specific enquiries or comments)
ip@nice.org.uk
Interventional Procedures Programme
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
MidCity Place
71 High Holborn
London
WC1V 6NA
