Abstract
Using ultrasonography, we measured the largest vertical dimension for pockets of amniotic fluid (largest vertical pocket) directly
before elective cesarean delivery in 42 pregnant women and compared the results to actual amniotic fluid volume (AFV).
In another 3 pregnant women of vaginal delivery suspected polyhydramnios, we performed amniocentesis and successively
recorded the largest vertical pocket and actual AFV, and finally made a fitting curve and correlative equation. A high degree
of correlation was found between the largest vertical pocket measured by ultrasound and the actual AFV. The equation is:
Y=63.03-8.46X+0.71X²-0.01X³+0.00006X4. Using the equation obtained which relates largest vertical pocket to actual AFV; a
30mm largest vertical pocket corresponds to an actual volume of 200ml, an 80mm largest vertical pocket to 800ml, and a
120mm largest vertical pocket to 3,000ml. In conclusion, the largest vertical pocket is well reflected in the actual AFV.
