title: Measurements and planes assessed during second-trimester scans in Brazil: an online survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to estimate what measurements and planes are being assessed during second-trimester scan in Brazil, some characteristics from performing physicians and whether informed consent is being asked.
  
  
  METHODS
  Invitational e-mails were sent for all physicians registered in the database from three institutions. Participants who agreed to participate were directed to an online survey consisting 21 questions. All participants who agreed to participate and sent the online survey were included. We excluded participants who sent an incomplete survey; those who perform ≤ 10 second-trimester scans per month and those who do not work in Brazil.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 41,847 invitational e-mails were submitted, and 467 participants were included in the final analysis. We observed a relatively low proportion of participants examining some important planes from fetal heart: only approximately 80% usually examine the five-chamber and three-vessel views and only 44.3% examine the tracheal view. Regarding the expertise of examiners, we observed that 10.7% of participants do not have any certificate acknowledged by our official institutions. Additionally, only 7.9% of the participants ask for signed informed consent before examination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Specific guidelines are still missing. A relatively high proportion of second-trimester scan do not evaluate even what is suggested to be performed in a routine second-trimester scan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael Frederico
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Bruns
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Araujo Júnior
authors.forename: Luciano Marcondes Machado
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Nardozza
authors.forename: Wellington P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Antonio Fernandes
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Moron
mesh_terms: D001837:Body Weights and Measures / Q000379:methods; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D009862:Online Systems; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000502:physiology; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data