PERINATAL OUTCOME IN TERMS OF APGAR SCORE AT 5 MINUTES AFTER INDUCTION OF TERM AND POST-DATE PREGNANCIES

Abstract

Objective: To determine perinatal outcome in terms of Apgar score at 5 minutes after delivery and admission in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in induction of term and post-dates pregnancies.
Study Design: Descriptive case series.
Place and Duration: Gynaecology/Obstetrics Department, Military Hospital, Rawalpindi from 16-02-2009 to 15-08-2009.
Subjects and Methods: One hundred and sixty three patients were included in this study. Patients were closely monitored during labour. Perinatal outcome was noted by assessing Apgar score at 5 minutes after delivery and by number of babies admitted to NICU within 1st 24 hours after delivery.
Results: Apgar score at 5 minutes was more than > 7 in 67 (94.4%) of term pregnancy and in 85 (92.4%) in post date pregnancy and this difference was insignificant (p=0.618). Only one baby (1.4%) among term group required admission in NICU within first 24 hours of delivery while 3 babies (3.3%) in post date pregnancy had admission in NICU with insignificant difference (p=0.448).
Conclusion: Post-term pregnancy, in most cases, probably represents a variant of normal and is associated with good outcome, regardless of form of care givers. In minority of cases there is an increased risk of perinatal death and early neonatal convulsions.