Clinical role of amnio-infusion.

Amnio-infusion is a simple, yet beneficial, technique for improving pregnancy outcome. Antepartum amnio-infusion has been shown to be beneficial as an aid to enhancing ultrasonographic fetal imaging and may have a role in the administration of antibiotic therapy or the prevention of pulmonary hypoplasia. There are considerable data to support the intrapartum use of amnio-infusion in the presence of oligohydramnios, variable decelerations or meconium. Numerous prospective clinical trials have shown a significant benefit of amnio-infusion in reducing the rate of emergency caesarean section for fetal distress and complications related to meconium when used for these indications. Additional research is needed to clarify further its intrapartum role in patients with premature rupture of membranes or chorio-amnionitis.