| Abstract | The error associated with regression analysis methods for the ultrasonographic estimation
of fetal weight in the suspected macrosomic fetus, approximately 10 percent, is clinically
unacceptable. This study was undertaken to evaluate the applicability of an emerging
technique, biologically simulated intelligence, to this problem. One hundred patients with
suspected macrosomic fetuses underwent ultrasonographic measurements of biparietal
diameter, head and abdominal circumference, femur length, abdominal subcutaneous tissue,
and amniotic fluid index. The biologically simulated intelligence model included gestational
age, fundal height, age, gravidity, and height. The model was then compared with results
obtained from previously published formulas relying on the abdominal circumference and
femur length. The biologically simulated intelligence yielded an average error of 4.7 percent from
actual birth weight, statistically better (p = 0.001) than the results obtained from regression
models. |