Ultrasound examinations in pregnancy: some suggestions for debate.
OBJECTIVE
to ascertain the number of ultrasound examinations a sample of women received in pregnancy.


METHODS
a retrospective review of 50 sets of case notes of women delivering consecutively in one maternity unit.


METHODS
a large maternity unit in Northern England (approximately 5000 deliveries per year).


RESULTS
the mean number of scans received was 2.6 indicating that many women receive an early 'dating' scan as well as a second trimester 'routine' scan.


CONCLUSIONS
first trimester and early mid-trimester scans may be clinically indicated, but we are concerned that they are becoming routine without fundamental questions of safety and efficacy being answered by large controlled trials. In addition, little is known about the possible positive or negative psychological effects of early scans and there is no evidence that they are cost effective.
Dowswell
T
T
Hewison
J
J
D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*