Publications
Guidelines on fetal growth restriction: a comparison of recent national publications
Pregnancies affected by suboptimal fetal growth pose a daily challenge for obstetricians, however international guidelines are inconsistent and show variation, so consensus is urgently needed to inform best clinical practice.
- Authors
Julia Unterscheider, Keelin O'Donoghue
- Year
- 2015
- Journal Name
- American Journal of Perinatology
- Category
- Journal Article
- Keywords
- Clinical guideline(s), Fetal growth restriction, Stillbirth
- Full Citation
Unterscheider J, O'Donoghue K, Malone FD. Guidelines on fetal growth restriction: a comparison of recent national publications. American Journal of Perinatology. 2015;32(4):307-16. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1387927.
- Link to Publication
- https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1387927
Abstract
There is international consensus that pregnancies affected by suboptimal fetal growth pose a daily challenge for obstetricians, and that guidance documents should be available to inform best practice of these pregnancies. Clinical practice guidelines should be evidence based and aimed at standardising and improving care for defined populations, including pregnancy. Poor fetal growth complicates around 10% of pregnancies, but there are uncertainties as to how best to look after and manage these pregnancies. This review aimed to compare and contrast recommendations published in several international guidelines from professional organisations in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, including the US, UK, Canada and Ireland. Guidelines used different terminology and had different approaches to screening and diagnosis of poor fetal growth. There were also different opinions on which management strategy was best and recommendations on timing of birth also varied. This review highlights the disparities that exist between various national protocols on the management of fetal growth problems in pregnancy, despite access to the same published literature. There are some important and outstanding questions in this field needing urgent resolution with respect to terminology, definition, surveillance, and timing of birth, and this paper calls for an urgent international consensus on some of these core issues.