Transabdominal Ultrasonography
- Useful screening test for early pregnancy complications such as threatened abortion, ectopic pregnancy, blighted ovum, trophoblastic disease etc. 6,7
- Correlation of sonographic findings with simultaneous maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-HCG) levels is useful in evaluation of early pregnancy complications, particularly when a living embryo is not visualised. 7,8
- Allows identification of an intrauterine pregnancy, which is the single most important finding for the exclusion of ectopic gestation as the presence of both intra- and extra-uterine pregnancy, is very rare. 7
- Enables examination of fetal anatomy and measurement of nuchal translucency, thus allowing detection of majority of fetal structural and chromosomal abnormalities in early pregnancy. 9-11
- Allows assessment of the outcome of early first-trimester pregnancies with slow embryonic heart rates (embryonic heart rate of <70bpm is associated with fetal demise in 100% of patients; and if the embryonic heart rate is <90bpm in the first trimester, close follow-up of the pregnancy is recommended). 12
- Follow-up second trimester US may still be required, as significant abnormalities such as heart and spinal defects can still be missed on first trimester US. 9
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