Ultrasound for fetal assessment in early pregnancy

Clear benefits of the routine use of ultrasound scanning have not been established. On the basis of the findings of this review routine use of ultrasound scanning in early pregnancy would not be warranted in developing countries.

RHL Commentary by José Belizan

EVIDENCE SUMMARY

Routine use of ultrasound scanning in early pregnancy (before 24 weeks) results in earlier detection of multiple pregnancies and reduced rates of induction of labour for "post term" pregnancy, but there is no evidence that it improves substantive clinical outcomes. Where detection of fetal abnormality was a specific aim of the examination, the number of terminations of pregnancy for fetal anomalies increased. Long-term follow-up of children in two studies showed no deleterious effect of routine ultrasound scanning on school performance or neurobehavioural function.

The review has been adequately performed and relevant trials on the subject have been included and appropriately analysed.

The full RHL commentary also includes sections on:

Relevance
- Magnitude of the problem
- Feasibility of the intervention
- Applicability of the results of the Cochrane Review
- Implementation of the intervention
- Research

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This document should be cited as: José Belizan. Routine ultrasound in early pregnancy: RHL commentary (last revised: 22 September 1998). The WHO Reproductive Health Library, No 9, Update Software Ltd, Oxford, 2006. www.rhlibrary.com