The role of ultrasound in pregnancy-related emergencies.
Most complications of pregnancy allow time for transfer to specialized obstetric ultrasound units, but many women present to the emergency room or the labor and delivery unit with signs and symptoms suggesting genuine acute medical emergencies, where successful outcome depends on prompt diagnosis of the disorder and rapid appropriate medical management. The use of ultrasound technology in obstetric emergencies is well established. Ultrasonography plays a major role in such cases as the most important tool clinicians are using to identify the correct etiology and diagnosis, whereas in other cases it helps limit the differential diagnosis. One of the goals of any advanced training program in obstetrics and gynecology and radiology is to allow the skilled physician to perform the proper ultrasound study in case of an obstetric emergency to facilitate the proper diagnosis, enabling the medical team to provide the best possible care.
Lazebnik
Noam
N
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MacDonald Women's Hospital, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. noam@cwru.edu
Lazebnik
Roee S
RS
D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012380:Role; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*