Table 1 Potential benefits of obstetric ultrasound in antenatal care
Diagnoses of the following conditions | |
|---|---|
• | Gestational age to diagnose prematurity and post-dates |
• | Placenta previa |
• | Fetal malposition |
• | Multiple gestation |
• | Ectopic pregnancy |
• | Retained placental products following delivery |
• | Fetal anomalies |
• | Fetal growth restriction |
• | Poly- and oligio-hydramnios |
• | Fetal demise |
• | Obstructive fibroids |
Potential benefits related to health care | |
• | Increased enrollment in prenatal care (access to testing for syphilis, iron/vitamins, etc.) |
• | Increased basic facility usage for delivery for women with uncomplicated pregnancies |
• | Increased hospital referral for delivery for women with complicated pregnancies |
• | Decreased inappropriate transfers |
• | Recruitment and retention of community physicians and midwives |
• | Specific diagnostic information to inform expecting mothers to deliver in a risk-appropriate setting |
Potential outcomes achieved with prenatal ultrasound | |
• | Reduction of maternal mortality and maternal near-miss morbidity |
• | Reduction of fetal and newborn mortality |
• | Rational management of preeclampsia/eclampsia, fetal growth restriction and other conditions related to gestational age dating |
• | The ability to treat women with a short cervix with progesterone or a pessary to decrease preterm birth |
• | Appropriate treatment of women with incomplete abortion, ectopic pregnancy, and fetal demise |
• | Reduction in emergency care for birthing complications due to more deliveries in risk-appropriate settings |