First-Trimester Ultrasound Examination
Indications
- Confirmation of the presence of an intrauterine pregnancy
- Evaluation of a suspected ectopic pregnancy
- Defining the cause of vaginal bleeding
- Evaluation of pelvic pain
- Estimation of gestational (menstrual) age
- Diagnosis or evaluation of multiple gestations
- Confirmation of cardiac activity
- Imaging as an adjunct to chorionic villus sampling, embryo
transfer, and localization and removal of an intrauterine device
- Assessing for certain foetal anomalies, such as
anencephaly, in high-risk patients
- Evaluation of maternal pelvic masses and/or uterine
abnormalities
- Measuring the nuchal translucency (NT) when part of a
screening program for foetal aneuploidy
- Evaluation of a suspected hydatidiform mole
Second- and Third-Trimester Ultrasound Examination
Indications
- Screening for foetal anomalies
- Evaluation of foetal anatomy
- Estimation of gestational (menstrual) age
- Evaluation of foetal growth
- Evaluation of vaginal bleeding
- Evaluation of abdominal or pelvic pain
- Evaluation of cervical insufficiency
- Determination of foetal presentation
- Evaluation of suspected multiple gestation
- Adjunct to amniocentesis or other procedure
- Evaluation of a significant discrepancy between uterine
size and clinical dates
- Suspected ectopic pregnancy
- Evaluation of foetal well-being
- Suspected amniotic fluid abnormalities
TECHNOLOGY USED IN USG OBSTETRICS
Ultrasound is a type of imaging. It uses
high-frequency sound waves to look at organs and structures inside
the body. Health care professionals use it to view the heart, blood
vessels, kidneys, liver, and other organs. During pregnancy,
doctors use ultrasound to view the foetus. Unlike x-rays,
ultrasound does not expose you to radiation
HOW IS USG OBSTETRICS TEST PERFORMED
During an ultrasound test, you lie on a
table. A special technician or doctor moves a device called a
transducer over part of your body. The transducer sends out sound
waves, which bounce off the tissues inside your body. The
transducer also captures the waves that bounce back. The ultrasound
machine creates images from the sound waves.
WHY IS USG OBSTETRICS TEST DONE
- Help to monitor the growth of an unborn child, and check
for abnormalities. An ultrasound scan is routine for pregnant
women
- Detect abnormalities of heart structures such as the heart
valves. (An ultrasound scan of the heart is called an
echocardiogram.)
- Help to diagnose problems of the liver, gallbladder (such
as gallstones), pancreas, thyroid gland, lymph nodes, ovaries,
testes, kidneys, bladder and breast. For example, it can help to
determine if an abnormal lump in one of these organs is a solid
tumour or a fluid-filled cyst
- Detect abnormal widening of blood vessels (aneurysms)
USG OBSTETRICS TEST RISKS
No known side-effects
