Abdominal Girth Measurement -Infant

Abdominal Girth Measurement -Infant

Abdominal Girth Measurement

Summary of Recommendation and Evidence

Population

Recommendation

Grade
(What's This?)

Screening of both Genders

This screening is recommended a best practice.

B

Abdominal circumference (AC) is measured just above the level of the umbilicus. It is no longer recommended to measure Abdominal circumference below the level of the umbilicus because a full bladder may interfere with accurate measurement.

AC is not routinely measured unless there is a suspicion of abdominal distention due to obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract. The neonate’s abdomen usually enlarges after a feeding due to lax abdominal muscle.

Abdominal circumference of newborn boys and girls:

Birth weight

Gender

n

Mean abdominal circumference (cm)

SD

95% CI

P value

<1000g

boys

6

18.70

0.84

-1.17 -1.30

0.17 (>0,05)

 

girls

27

18.67

1.40

 

 

1001- 1500g

boys

23

22.20

1.42

-0.65 - 1.17

0.58 (>0,05)

 

girls

16

21.94

21.94

 

 

1501- 2500g

boys

99

24.47

2.36

-1.09 - 0.21

0.54 (>0,05)

 

girls

88

24.92

2.23

 

 

2501- 4590g

boys

130

30.56

1.62

-3.06 - 2.23

0.04 (<0,05)

 

girls

110

33.23

1.62

 

 

Measurement difference between two investigators

Birth weight

n

Mean abdominal circumference (cm) Nr.1

Mean abdominal circumference (cm) Nr.2

Mean diff

SD

St. error diff

P value

<1000g

33

18.70

18.67

0.03

0.17

0.03

0.32 (>0,05)

1001- 1500g

39

22.09

22.04

0.05

0.19

0.03

0.10 (>0,05)

1501- 2500g

148

25.36

25.40

0.03

0.16

0.01

0.02 (<0,05)

2501- 4590g

240

31.78

31.80

0.02

0.18

0.01

0.11 (>0,05)

Together

460

27.96

27.97

0.01

0.17

0.01

0.11 (>0,05)