title: Abdominopelvic ultrasonographic findings after uncomplicated delivery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively determine the range of abdominopelvic ultrasonographic findings, including Doppler resistance index (RI) of uterine arteries, 2 and 24 hours after uncomplicated delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women who delivered vaginally or after cesarean section without complication from January 2012 to April 2012 in a tertiary care hospital were prospectively included. Abdominopelvic ultrasonography, including uterine artery resistance index (RI) at duplex Doppler ultrasonography, was performed 2 hours and 24 hours after delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-two women (mean age, 32.7 years) were included. Sixty-one (66%) delivered vaginally and 31 (34%) had cesarean section. Twenty-four hours after vaginal delivery, endometrial and anterior wall thicknesses dropped and uterine width increased (P<0.001). No changes in uterine length and posterior wall thickness were observed between 2 and 24 hours after delivery. Transient pelvic free-fluid effusion was observed in 1/92 woman (1%). Uterine artery RI increased significantly from 2 to 24 hours (0.50 vs 0.57, respectively; P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pelvic free-fluid effusion is exceedingly rare in the early course of uncomplicated delivery. A significant increase in uterine artery RI during the 24 hours following uncomplicated delivery is a normal finding. It can be anticipated that familiarity with these findings would result in more confident diagnosis of complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of gynecology and obstetrics, hôpital Lariboisière, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75010 Paris, France; Université Diderot, Paris 7, Sorbonne Paris-Cité, 10, rue de Verdun, 75010 Paris, France.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lousquy
authors.affiliation: Department of gynecology and obstetrics, hôpital Lariboisière, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75010 Paris, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pernin
authors.affiliation: Department of gynecology and obstetrics, hôpital Lariboisière, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75010 Paris, France; Université Diderot, Paris 7, Sorbonne Paris-Cité, 10, rue de Verdun, 75010 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Delpech
authors.affiliation: Department of gynecology and obstetrics, hôpital Lariboisière, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75010 Paris, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ricbourg
authors.affiliation: Université Diderot, Paris 7, Sorbonne Paris-Cité, 10, rue de Verdun, 75010 Paris, France; Department of abdominal and interventional imaging, hôpital Lariboisière, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75010 Paris, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dohan
authors.affiliation: Université Diderot, Paris 7, Sorbonne Paris-Cité, 10, rue de Verdun, 75010 Paris, France; Department of abdominal and interventional imaging, hôpital Lariboisière, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75010 Paris, France. Electronic address: philippe.soyer@lrb.aphp.fr.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Soyer
authors.affiliation: Department of gynecology and obstetrics, hôpital Lariboisière, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75010 Paris, France; Université Diderot, Paris 7, Sorbonne Paris-Cité, 10, rue de Verdun, 75010 Paris, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barranger
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010388:Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D055988:Uterine Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cesarean section; Duplex Doppler examination; Post-partum; Ultrasonography; Uterus