Correlation of Gestational Age with Fetal Renal Length in Third Trimester Pregnancy

Abstract Aim: To evaluate the accuracy of fetal kidney length on ultrasound as a reliable indicator of gestational age in the third trimester. Materials and methods: This hospital-based observational study is a prospective study conducted over a period of one year on 100 antenatal patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria, at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Acharya Shri Chander College of Medical Sciences, Sidhra, Jammu, after obtaining written informed consent and institutional ethical clearance. Pregnant women with singleton pregnancies in the third trimester (28 to 40 weeks), with regular menstrual cycles and known last menstrual period, and no associated risk factors were included. Results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Data analysis was done using SSPS software. Results: The data indicate a progressive increase in FKL with advancing gestational age. At 28 weeks, the average FKL was 31.2 mm (SD ±1.7), increasing steadily to 32.3 mm (SD ±2.3) at 29 weeks, and 33.7 mm (SD ±1.5) at 30 weeks. This trend continues through the third trimester, with FKL measuring 36.1 mm (SD ±1.9) at 32 weeks, 38.8 mm (SD ±2.5) at 34 weeks, and reaching 42.6 mm (SD ±1.9) by 40 weeks. Conclusion: The consistent rise in FKL with gestational age supports its potential utility as a reliable parameter for estimating GA in the third trimester.