A systematic review and critical evaluation of quality of clinical practice guidelines on fetal growth restriction

Introduction To systematically identify and critically assess the quality of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) on management fetal growth restriction (FGR). Content Medline, Embase, Google Scholar, Scopus and ISI Web of Science databases were searched to identify all relevant CPGs on FGR. Summary Diagnostic criteria of FGR, recommended growth charts, recommendation for detailed anatomical assessment and invasive testing, frequency of fetal growth scans, fetal monitoring, hospital admission, drugs administrations, timing at delivery, induction of labor, postnatal assessment and placental histopathological were assessed. Quality assessment was evaluated by AGREE II tool. Twelve CPGs were included. Twenty-five percent (3/12) of CPS adopted the recently published Delphi consensus, 58.3% (7/12) an estimated fetal weight (EFW)/abdominal circumference (AC) EFW/AC Outlook There is significant heterogeneity in the management of pregnancies complicated by FGR in published CPGs.