Study of a Structured Ultrasound Program for Monitoring Fetal Growth and Reducing Stillbirth Risks in Pregnant Women at Oxford University Hospitals

What this Trial Is About

Fetal growth restriction during pregnancy is a major risk factor for stillbirth, with many stillbirths linked to problems in fetal growth. Detecting growth-restricted babies before birth is important to monitor their health and decide the best time for delivery. However, routine detection rates have been low in NHS England, with only about 25% of growth-restricted babies identified before birth. Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with Oxford Academic Health Science Network, developed the Oxford Growth Restriction Pathway OxGRIP to improve detection and outcomes for these at-risk babies while using resources efficiently and reducing unnecessary interventions. The OxGRIP pathway includes a routine ultrasound scan at 36 weeks gestation for all pregnant women. Additional growth scans are performed at 28 and 32 weeks based on risk factors and a universal uterine artery Doppler scan at 20 weeks. The pathway also evaluates other ultrasound measures linked to poor outcomes, such as growth velocity and blood flow in key arteries. This pathway combines several care elements previously not used together and aims to improve clinical outcomes and resource use. This study uses only routinely collected clinical data, with no direct patient participation needed. Researchers analyze data from pregnancies cared for at Oxford University Hospitals between 2013 and 2019 to assess how the OxGRIP pathway affects perinatal mortality and other maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes. They also look at ultrasound markers, clinical complications like hypertension and diabetes, birth details, and neonatal health. The study provides valuable information on the benefits and impacts of this structured ultrasound scanning approach over several years.

Investigating the Structured Use of Ultrasound Scanning for Fetal Growth