PRETERM DETECTION OF CONGENITAL ANOMALIES BY ULTRASOUND AND CORRELATION WITH POSSIBLE ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: This descriptive, cross-sectional study aims to determine the prevalence of congenital anomalies in the Iraqi population, the associated risk factors & to emphasize the importance of ultrasound examination during pregnancy especially in the high-risk group. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: Data were collected from three private ultrasound clinics in different areas in Baghdad, where many pregnant women were examined over one year and those who had abnormal fetus were questioned about any possible risk factor. RESULTS: Results: The study revealed a prevalence of (14/1000). The most common anomalies are those related to the central nervous system. Some of the patients had no risk factors, others had one or more, the most important of which was consanguinity. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The prevalence of congenital anomaly had both geographical and temporal variations, but in general, it was increasing with time and became relatively higher in the middle and south of Iraq compared with the north. This may be related to differences in ethnic, social and demographic factors as well as environmental factors, like pollution and war residues. Ultrasound had a valuable role in screening, detection and follow-up of congenital anomalies. It is a safe, available and cost-effective examination that should be offered to every pregnant woman, especially those with high-risk pregnancies.

Normal values of angle and distance between the superior mesenteric artery and aorta in Iraqi population: A single centre study.

INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis of the superior mesenteric syndrome depends on measuring the distance and angle between the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and aorta on CT scan in the presence of duodenal compression. Studies examining the normal range of these measurements are scarce and none of them was conducted on the Iraqi population. The aim of this study was to assess the values of aorto-SMA angle (AMA) and aorto-SMA distance (AMD) in asymptomatic patients to define the normal range in the Iraqi population and to compare it with the normal published range and different demographical values and body mass index (BMI). METHODS: A total of 333 patients referred to arterial phase CT examinations for reasons unrelated to gastrointestinal tract were recruited. On axial and reformatted sagittal-oblique images, the angle and the distance between SMA and aorta were measured at the location where the duodenum crosses. RESULTS: Both AMA and AMD had a wider range 10-147° and 4-44 mm, respectively, compared to the literature reported range. There was a significant reduction in AMA and AMD values in underweight participants (AMA, P < 0.001; and AMD, P = 0.014) and in female patients (AMA and AMD, P < 0.0001) and those who were younger than 20 (AMA, P = 0.014; and AMD, P = 0.001). A moderate correlation (r = 0.507, P < 0.0001) was found between AMA and AMD values. The correlation of BMI with AMD values was moderate (r = 0.46), and with AMA was weak (r = 0.23) (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Very low values of AMA and AMD can occur in normal asymptomatic patients without compressing the duodenum, which warrants further follow-up studies. Evaluating normal values of AMA and AMD in the Iraqi population can help in providing a reference for CT-based diagnosis of SMA syndrome.