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The challenges for patients and sonographers when complex obstetric anomalies are identified
Author(s) -
Shakes Pieta,
Deslandes Alison
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
sonography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2054-6750
pISSN - 2202-8323
DOI - 10.1002/sono.12260
Subject(s) - medicine , obstetric ultrasound , ambiguity , sonographer , psychosocial , prenatal diagnosis , agenesis of the corpus callosum , obstetrics , pregnancy , corpus callosum , ultrasonography , psychiatry , fetus , radiology , pathology , computer science , genetics , biology , programming language
The prenatal identification of complex obstetric anomalies can present issues for expectant parents, sonographers and departments of obstetric ultrasound. The limitations of imaging technologies, ongoing fetal development and various interpretations of anomalies and prognosis create ambiguity. Complexity is further heightened by a lack of policies and training related to the communication of unexpected findings and support for sonographers who work with expectant parents during or after times of significant distress and trauma. This case report details challenges presented upon a third‐trimester diagnosis of a complex obstetric anomaly agenesis of the corpus callosum and offers recommendations to reduce the negative psychosocial consequences of complex obstetric anomaly diagnosis.