[Impact of the detection of small for gestational age fetuses on the neonatal prognosis]

Objective: We sought to evaluate whether the antenatal identification of small for gestational age (SGA) fetuses could influence the neonatal and obstetric prognosis.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. All liveborn singleton neonates with a birthweight<3rd centile, born>32 weeks of gestation between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2012 were included. Fetuses were considered "suspected SGA" when the estimated fetal weight was<10th centile or when a diagnosis of clinical or ultrasound SGA was explicitly noted in the record. Obstetrical and neonatal follow-up and outcomes of suspected SGA (SGAS group) and non-suspected (SGANS group) were compared, with Chi² and the Fisher exact test when appropriate.

Results: Hundred and forty-seven neonates were included. Among these, 54% were suspected SGA before birth. Gestational age was lower (38.5 weeks gestation [WG] vs. 39.6 WG, P<0.001) and there was a higher preterm birth rate in the SGAS group (10% vs. 0%, P=0.005). The rate of elective cesarean sections (17% vs. 3%, P=0.005) was higher in the SGAS group, whereas the rate of nonelective cesarean sections was lower (20% vs. 33%, P=0.002). Neonatal morbidity was similar in both groups, as well as birth weight.

Conclusion: SGA fetal screening in our cohort was associated with a higher rate of medical intervention and preterm birth without neonatal benefit. Nevertheless, the study's power and methodology are not adequate to reduce the risk of fetal death in utero or severe asphyxia associated with non-identification of a SGA fetus.