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Use of a pocket‐sized ultrasound machine ( PUM ) for routine examinations in the third trimester of pregnancy
Author(s) -
Galjaard S.,
Baeck S.,
Ameye L.,
Bourne T.,
Timmerman D.,
Devlieger R.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1002/uog.13285
Subject(s) - medicine , ultrasound , intraclass correlation , gestational age , bland–altman plot , limits of agreement , nuclear medicine , fetus , obstetrics , biparietal diameter , pregnancy , radiology , clinical psychology , genetics , biology , psychometrics , head circumference
Objectives To evaluate the application of a pocket‐sized ultrasound machine ( PUM ) in a routine antenatal third‐trimester scan compared with a high‐specification ultrasound machine ( HSUM ). Methods This was an observational cohort study of 53 unselected women who came for their routine third‐trimester ultrasound scan. The first scan was performed by an experienced ultrasonographer on an HSUM for fetal growth, fetal wellbeing and placental location. A second experienced operator performed the measurements on the PUM . Both operators were blinded to the other's findings and measurement results. Results Fifty‐one patients were eligible and scanned at a median gestational age of 31 + 1 (range, 27 + 2 to 36 + 0) weeks. Mean pregestational body mass index was 22.9 ± 3.1 (range, 17.6–35.7) kg/m 2 . In the comparison between measurements made using the PUM and HSUM, perfect agreement was found for fetal position, fetal bladder and stomach visualization (all κ 1.0) and very good agreement was found for placental position (κ 0.86). Measurements of deepest vertical pocket correlated moderately (intraclass correlation coefficient ( ICC ) 0.38 (95% CI , 0.12–0.59); Bland–Altman bias, 2.43 (95% limits of agreement ( LoA ), −22.65 to 27.51)). For fetal growth measurements there was very good agreement for biparietal diameter ( ICC , 0.93 (95% CI , 0.88–0.96), Bland–Altman bias, −1.06 (95% LoA , −5.07 to 2.95)), and good agreement for femur length ( ICC , 0.66 (95% CI , 0.48–0.79), Bland–Altman bias 0.56 (95% LoA , −5.97 to 7.08)) and transcerebellar diameter ( ICC , 0.65 (95% CI , 0.46–0.78), Bland–Altman bias, −0.84 (95% LoA , −7.77 to 6.09)). Conclusion A battery‐driven PUM can be used in third‐trimester obstetrics for routine assessment of fetal growth (biparietal diameter, transcerebellar diameter and femur length) and for assessment of fetal wellbeing. Copyright © 2013 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.