Liquor amnii exceeds 2000 ml. What is this state called?

AIIMS Raipur NO- 2019 (shift 3rd)

Obstetrics and Midwifery Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: AIIMS Raipur NO- 2019 (shift 3rd)

Explanation

Polyhydramnios, also known as hydramnios, is the medical term for an excessive accumulation of amniotic fluid.
Clinically, it is defined as an amniotic fluid volume greater than 2000 mL.
Modern diagnosis often uses ultrasound measurements, such as an Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI) greater than 24-25 cm or a single deepest pocket (SDP) of more than 8 cm.
The condition is associated with maternal factors like diabetes and fetal anomalies that can impair swallowing, such as anencephaly or esophageal atresia.

Option A: Amnitis refers to inflammation of the amnion, the inner membrane of the fetal sac. It is an infectious or inflammatory condition, not a disorder of fluid volume.
Option C: Oligohydramnios is the opposite of polyhydramnios. It signifies a deficient amount of amniotic fluid, typically defined as less than 200 mL at term or an AFI less than 5 cm.
Option D: Multiple pregnancy (e.g., twins, triplets) is a known risk factor or cause for developing polyhydramnios, but it is not the name of the condition of excess fluid itself.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Disorders of Amniotic Fluid Volume as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Recognizing polyhydramnios is crucial for nurses as it is associated with significant maternal and fetal risks, including preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes (PROM), placental abruption, and postpartum hemorrhage due to uterine overdistention.
Nursing care involves monitoring for maternal respiratory distress (dyspnea) due to pressure on the diaphragm, measuring abdominal girth to track fluid accumulation, and preparing for potential complications like cord prolapse if membranes rupture.
What if the amniotic fluid volume was less than 200 mL? The diagnosis would be oligohydramnios. Nursing focus would shift to monitoring for signs of fetal compromise from cord compression and potential complications like pulmonary hypoplasia.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key information in the question: "Liquor amnii exceeds 2000 ml". This is a quantitative definition.
Next, analyze the options based on medical terminology. 'Liquor amnii' refers to amniotic fluid.
Recall or deduce the meaning of the prefixes. 'Poly-' means many or excessive, while 'oligo-' means few or scant. 'Hydramnios' refers to amniotic fluid.
Therefore, 'polyhydramnios' literally means 'excessive amniotic fluid', which directly matches the question's description of fluid exceeding 2000 ml.
Consider the other options to confirm. 'Amnitis' has the suffix '-itis', indicating inflammation. 'Oligohydramnios' means too little fluid. 'Multiple pregnancy' is a condition of having multiple fetuses, which can be a cause but is not the definition of excess fluid.
Select 'Polyhydramnios' as the correct definition.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Obstetrics Williams p. 51-72

E6 Midwifery Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing Sandeep Kaur p. 56-70