Purpose: to evaluate the ultrasonographic parameters associated with perinatal mortality increase in cases of fetal hydrocephalus. Method: 45 cases of fetal hydrocephalus were followed-up between January 1996 and December 1999. Fetal hydrocephalus was diagnosed when the ratio of lateral ventricles and the corresponding cerebral hemispheres was above 0.35 or when the measurement of the atrium of the lateral ventricles was above 10 mm. In all examinations the type of hydrocephalus, severity, symmetry, evolution and time of diagnosis were defined. The patients were submitted to morphologic ultrasound in the search of other anatomical abnormalities. The amniotic fluid index and fetal deaths were registered. The main ultrasonographic findings were correlated with perinatal mortality. For statistical analysis, chi² test and exact Fisher test were used. The value of p<0,05 was considered to be significant. Results: a total of 20 deaths were observed (44.4%), 6 occurred intra-uterus and 14 in the neonatal period. The diagnosis of hydrocephalus was established at a mean gestational age of 29 weeks. There was no association between perinatal mortality and alterations in the amniotic fluid volume, time of diagnosis, symmetry and type of hydrocephalus and the presence of other intra- or extracranial anomalies. On the other hand, the severity of the disease was associated significantly with perinatal death (p<0.0001). Conclusion: among all the analyzed ultrasonographic parameters, only the severity of hydrocephalus presented statistical association with perinatal death.
Fetal hydrocephalus; Ultrasonography; Perinatal mortality; Prenatal diagnosis
