Abstract
Targeted early midtrimester fetal transvaginal scans enable the detection of more details and anomalies, as compared to the later sonographic scan because some abnormalities are transient (e.g. nuchal findings), or more easily detected in the early mid-trimester (e.g. cardiac vessels, fetal fingers, kidneys and urinary tract), and some of the early findings such as cervical incompetence may not reach a later gestational age. The number of the late detected malformations is numerically negligible compared to the early transvaginal scan which detects 97% of the pathologies (including cervical incompetence), whereas the late scans detect below 90% of fetal malformations. In addition, early midtrimester fetal scanning has also psychological benefits and in case of necessitating termination of pregnancy, the procedure is less traumatic than later induced abortions. In conclusion, we believe every pregnant woman deserves a thorough, targeted, extensive fetal transvaginal scanning by an expert sonographist in the early midtrimester (14-16 weeks' gestation) and a complementary transabdominal scan at about 23 weeks for the detection of late appearing anomalies.
Translated title of the contribution | Targeted transvaginal sonography by an expert sonologist in the early second trimester for the detection of fetal malformations |
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Original language | Spanish |
Pages (from-to) | 103-121 |
Number of pages | 19 |
Journal | Cuadernos de Medicina Reproductiva |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 1 |
State | Published - 2001 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Obstetrics and Gynecology