A 28-year-old woman has been an insulin-dependent diabetic for 10 years. At 36 weeks' gestation, she has an amniocentesis. A lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio test is performed on the sample of her amniotic fluid. Since she is a diabetic, the 2:1 ratio obtained indicates that the fetus:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The L/S ratio is a measure of fetal lung maturity. A ratio of 2:1 or greater indicates that the fetal lungs are mature enough to function outside of the womb. However, since the mother is a diabetic, there may be an increased risk of fetal lung immaturity. Therefore, it is important to monitor the fetus closely and be prepared to provide respiratory support if necessary.

A 28-Year-Old Woman Has Been an Insulin-Dependent Diabetic for 10