Insufficient fetal growth: fetal growth restriction or small for gestational age fetus? The difference between these conditions, what is known about diagnosis, prevention and treatment: A review

Abstract

The difference between the fetal growth restriction and the small-for-gestational-age fetus was analyzed in this article. The article describes the most complete definition of the fetal growth restriction according to ultrasound data. Information about possible ethology and pathogenesis of the fetal growth restriction, the modern classification of this condition was also summarized in the article. We provide classifications which were used in Russia and all over the world earlier. The article contains information about possible methods of diagnosing the fetal growth restriction with accents on key indicators of dopplerometry and cardiotocography. According to the latest data, the management of patients changes depending on the gestation period. There are significant differences between early and late fetal growth restriction. Futhermore, we tried to research universal methods of prevention and treatment of the fetal growth restriction. We also included data from Russian Society of obstetricians and gynecologists guidelines. The analyzed information shows that the problem of the fetal growth restriction has many unsolved problems and great potential for the further research.

Keywords

• the fetal growth restriction
• the small-for-gestational-age fetus
• cardiotocography
• doppler study