Causes, management and outcomes of polyhydramnios at a secondary level hospital in Cape Town, South Africa

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0317256
• Publication Date: 2025-03-05T18:23:18Z
• Authors: Amon Siveregi; Anne Horak; Chantal Stewart
• Keywords: Cape; Polyhydramnios

Polyhydramnios is associated with both maternal and fetal adverse outcomes. Idiopathic polyhydramnios, regardless of its severity category, was considered not to be an increase in In contrast, when conditions such as congenital chromosomal abnormalities or diabetes mellitus are detected, neonatal outcomes can up five times higher. We thus aimed document the patients mild, moderate severe polyhydramnios according whether underlying cause found which management protocol followed. conducted a retrospective cohort study all on ultrasound examination at our secondary hospital between January 1, 2018 December 31, 2020. Hospital folders were reviewed. recorded demographic data, information causes, summarised categorical variables using count (percentage). tested association chi-square test. Statistical significance set p < 0.05. A total 136 (80 42 moderate, 14 severe) included. Most cases idiopathic category [81.2% (65/80), 78% (32/42) (11/14) groups, respectively]. The likelihood occurrence composite outcome, higher increasing 6.75%. 19.05%, 35.71% respectively, having outcome (p = 0.01). Elective delivery before 40 weeks' gestation for significant reduction compared awaiting spontaneous labor (3.77% versus 15.79%, 0.036),. Adverse related significantly lower mild rate group comparable that general population. Early weeks may benefit groups polyhydramnios.