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Investigating the Structured Use of Ultrasound Scanning for Fetal Growth

Recruiting
Conditions
Small for Gestational Age
Fetal Death
Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Perinatal Death
Stillbirth
Fetal Growth Retardation
Fetal Growth Restriction
Registration Number
NCT03662178
Lead Sponsor
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
Brief Summary

Fetal growth restriction during pregnancy represents one of the biggest risk factors for stillbirth (Gardosi et al, 2013), with 'about one in three term, normally formed antepartum stillbirths are related to abnormalities of fetal growth' (MBRRACE, 2015).

Therefore, antenatal detection of growth restricted babies is vital in order to be able to monitor and decide the appropriate delivery timing.

However, antenatal detection of SGA babies has been poor, varying greatly across trusts in England in those that calculate their rates (NHS England, 2016). Most trusts do not calculate their detection rates and rates are therefore unknown. It is estimated that routine NHS care detects only 1 in 4 growth restricted babies (Smith, 2015).

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the Oxford Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) has introduced a clinical care pathway (the Oxford Growth Restriction Pathway (OxGRIP)) designed to increase the rates of detection of these at risk babies. The pathway is intended to increase the identification of babies who are at risk of stillbirth, in order to try to prevent this outcome, whilst making best usage of resources, and restricting inequitable practice and unnecessary obstetric intervention.

It has been developed with reference to a body of research, however, the individual parts of care provided have not been put together in a pathway in this manner before. Therefore it is important to examine whether the pathway meets its goals of improving outcomes for babies in a 'real world' setting.

The principles of the pathway are

1. A universal routine scan at 36 weeks gestation.

2. Additional growth scans at 28 and 32 weeks gestation based on a simplified assessment of risk factors and universal uterine artery Doppler at 20 weeks gestation.

3. Assessment of further parameters other than estimated fetal weight associated with adverse perinatal outcome (eg growth velocity, umbilical artery Doppler and CPR).

The clinical data routinely collected as a result of the introduction of the pathway offers a valuable and unique resource in identifying and analysing in the effects of the pathway on its intended outcomes and also in investigating and analysing other maternal, fetal and neonatal complications and outcomes, establishing normal / reference ranges for ultrasound values.

Detailed Description

There is no requirement for patient participation in this study. All data collected and analysed is routinely collected clinical data.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
56000
Inclusion Criteria

• All pregnant women receiving antenatal care at the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUHFT) from January 2013 to 31st December 2019 with no exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria
  • Women who have opted out of research related to pregnancy in this pregnancy whilst receiving care by the OUHFT.
  • If intrapartum care takes place outside of the OUHFT.

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Impact of OxGRIP on Perinatal mortality according to gestation4 yrs

Mortality (stillbirth and neonatal death per 1000 pregnancies) in the period after birth) assessed in 2 years before the programme and compared with the 2 years after the programme started. Assessed for all pregnancies and for those reaching 35 weeks' gestation

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Normal ranges of antenatal ultrasound markers.4 yrs

Development of normal range of routinely collected ultrasound measurements. Physiological parameter

Impact of the OxGRIP Pathway on service - Consultant time6 yrs

Number of Consultant appointments

Clinical outcomes during pregnancy and postnatal/neonatal period: mode of birth4 yrs

Mode of Delivery

Impact of the OxGRIP Pathway on service - intrapartum interventions6 yrs

Proportion of all birth delivered as emergency and elective cesarean sections and instrumental deliveries

Risk Factors for adverse outcomes - ultrasound femur length4 yrs

Routinely collected ultrasound fetal measurements - Femur Length. Physiological parameter

Risk Factors for adverse outcomes - ultrasound presentation4 yrs

Fetal presentation at last scan before birth. Physiological parameter

Clinical outcomes during pregnancy and postnatal/neonatal period: Apgar4 yrs

Apgar score at birth (continuous variable and rate of \<7 at 5 mins)

Impact of the OxGRIP Pathway on service: number of scans6 yrs

Number of Ultrasound Scans (\>24 weeks gestation) performed per pregnancy

Clinical outcomes during pregnancy and postnatal/neonatal period: infant4 yrs

Neonatal/infant death \>30 days of age \<1year of age: per 1000 live births

Clinical outcomes during pregnancy and postnatal/neonatal period: neonatal admission4 yrs

Adverse neonatal outcome - planned/unplanned admission to NICU: rate per 1000 pregnancies

Clinical outcomes during pregnancy and postnatal/neonatal period: HIE4 yrs

Adverse neonatal outcome - diagnosis of HIE rate per 1000 pregnancies

Clinical outcomes during pregnancy and postnatal/neonatal period: cord gas4 yrs

Cord Blood Gases outside normal range (umbilical cord arterial pH at birth \<7.00 and \<7.05)

Normal ranges of intrapartum markers.4 yrs

Cardiotocograph results ( Dawes Redman Criteria). Physiological parameter

Risk Factors for adverse outcomes - ultrasound head circumference4 yrs

Routinely collected ultrasound fetal measurements - Head Circumference. Physiological parameter

Risk Factors for adverse outcomes - ultrasound abdomen circumference4 yrs

Routinely collected ultrasound fetal measurements - Abdominal Circumference.Physiological parameter

Clinical outcomes during pregnancy and postnatal/neonatal period: hypertension4 yrs

Diagnosis of pre eclampsia and related complications. Physiological parameter

Clinical outcomes during pregnancy and postnatal/neonatal period: preterm birth4 yrs

Number of preterm births by gestation per 1000 pregnancies

Risk Factors for adverse outcomes - Doppler ultrasound4 yrs

Uterine/umbilical artery/ middle cerebral artery Doppler values. Physiological parameter

Clinical outcomes during pregnancy and postnatal/neonatal period: diabetes4 yrs

Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes. Physiological parameter

Clinical outcomes during pregnancy and postnatal/neonatal period: stillbirth4 yrs

Antenatal fetal loss rate per 1000 pregnancies

Clinical outcomes during pregnancy and postnatal/neonatal period: intrapartum stillbirth4 yrs

Intrapartum fetal loss rate per 1000 pregnancies

Clinical outcomes during pregnancy and postnatal/neonatal period: neonatal death4 yrs

Neonatal death \<30 days of age: rate per 1000 livebirths

Clinical outcomes during pregnancy and postnatal/neonatal period: size4 yrs

Small for Gestational Age birthweight - by Hadlock and Intergrowth centiles. Physiological parameter

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

🇬🇧

Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

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