Deepest vertical pocket method
The deepest (maximal) vertical pocket (DVP) depth is considered a reliable method for assessing amniotic fluid volume on ultrasound 1,2. It is performed by assessing a pocket of a maximal depth of amniotic fluid which is free of an umbilical cord and fetal parts.
The usually accepted values are:
- <2 cm: indicative of oligohydramnios
- 2-8 cm: normal but should be taken in the context of subjective volume
- >8 cm: indicative of polyhydramnios (although some centers, particularly in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, use a cut off of >10 cm)
Related Radiopaedia articles
Ultrasound - obstetric
- ultrasound (introduction)
- obstetric ultrasound
- first trimester and early pregnancy
- ectopic pregnancy
- multiple gestations
- subchorionic hematoma
- failed early pregnancy
-
second trimester
- fetal biometry
- fetal morphology assessment
- fetal echocardiography views
- nonvisualisation of the fetal stomach
-
soft markers
- nuchal fold thickness
- ventriculomegaly
- absent nasal bone
- choroid plexus cysts
- enlarged cisterna magna
- shortened fetal long bones
- echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF)
- echogenic fetal bowel
- aberrant right sublavian artery
- fetal pyelectasis / fetal renal pelvic dilatation
- single umbilical artery
- sandal gap toes
- amnioreduction
- Doppler ultrasound
- nuchal translucency
- 11-13 weeks antenatal scan
- chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and amniocentesis
- placenta
- other
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