[Ultrasonographic diagnosis of polyhydramnios and its association with congenital malformations].

We carried out a prospective study at the Hospital de Gineco-Obstetricia del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, in León, Guanajuato in order to evaluate the association between polyhydramnios and fetal congenital anomalies. 200 women were included, 100 with polyhydramnios and 100 with normal amniotic fluid (control group). The diagnosis of polyhydramnios was made with ultrasound scanning using maximum vertical pocket technique and amniotic fluid index. The patients with polyhydramnios had an average maximum vertical pocket of 9.3 centimeters and amniotic fluid index of 27.0 centimeters. In patients with polyhydramnios 24 cases of congenital malformations were found, and none in patients with normal amniotic fluid (P < 0.01). The most common fetal anomalies were: esophageal atresia (25%), anencephaly (21%) and ductus arteriosus (21%). There were six perinatal deaths in the group of patients with polyhydramnios, five of them had congenital abnormalities, on the other hand in the control group there were no perinatal deaths (P < 0.01). Owing to the signifficative association between polyhydramnios and congenital anomalies, we suggest to reinforce the ultrasound evaluation in order to detect these abnormalities and to offer an early treatment and therefore a better prognosis to the fetus.