Obstetric ultrasonography, or ultrasound during pregnancy, is a routine procedure in radiology.
For many reasons, it is important to have a basic understanding of the obstetric ultrasound scanning, including its indications, safety, and interpretation of imaging findings.
So, in this video you are going to learn about those aspects in detail.
In the first trimester, identifying and intrauterine gestational sac is considered a major priority.
In this image, the white arrow denotes the yolk sac within the gestational sac, which confirms the intrauterine pregnancy.
In addition to that, other indications for ultrasound during the first trimester include the following.
To assess the cardiac activity of the fetus and to estimate the gestational age.
Vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, or any concern of an ectopic pregnancy.
To evaluate pelvic or uterine masses.
To look for certain fetal anomalies in high-risk patients, including anencephaly.
In suspected molar pregnancy.
And as an adjunct to chorionic villus sampling, embryo transfer, or localization and removal of an intrauterine device.
Major indications for ultrasound scanning during the second and third trimesters include the following.
To assess the number of fetuses, presentation, and cardiac activity.
Amniotic fluid assessment.
To assess the placental location and relationship to internal cervical os.
To measure the cervical length.
Gestational age measurement in comparison to clinical dating.
To assess fetal parameters such as weight, OFC, abdominal circumference, and length.
And to assess the uterus of the mother.
Ultrasonography uses mechanical radiation in the form of sound waves to produce images.
This is different from X-ray and CT scans, where they use ionizing radiation to produce images.
Therefore, ultrasonography is a safe radiological procedure.
However, the results are operator-dependent, meaning that they may slightly vary depending on the person who performs the scan.
Patient preparation prior to the procedure is not required.
Either transvaginal route or transabdominal route can be used to visualize the fetus.
Woman who undergoes the procedure should remove the clothes around her body where the probe is applied.
A coupling gel is applied to the skin to reduce acoustic impedance from environmental air.
The procedure usually takes a few minutes, and no anesthesia is required.
#ultrasoundinpregnancy #medtoday
29 авг 2024
