Role of mean fetal kidney length as an additional parameter in late trimester for accurate estimation of gestational age relative to other biometrics indices

Accurate dating of pregnancy is critically important for pregnancy management from the first trimester to delivery and is particularly necessary for determining viability in premature labor and post-dates deliveries. The NMR is 28 per 1000 live births in 2013. A systematic analysis of global, regional, national causes of child mortality in 2013 identified preterm birth complications and infections to be the two major causes of neonatal deaths in India. It is particularly important in high-risk pregnancies (severe preeclampsia, chronic hypertension, severe IUGR, central placenta previa, sensitized Rh-negative mother, etc) where in some cases early termination may become necessary and prerequisite to interpret certain tests (amniotic fluid assay, serum assay, chorionic villus sampling) and to plan the timing of various forms of fetal therapy.