Organisation of obstetric ultrasound in Denmark 1990

To provide an overview of the current organisational status of obstetric ultrasound in Denmark, a questionnaire was sent in spring 1990 to all 59 departments responsible for the hospital antenatal care program and to the 25 imaging diagnostic departments providing ultrasound services for those of the 59 departments that had either insufficient or no ultrasound facilities. The response rate was 100%. Obstetric ultrasound was performed in 25 obstetric, 11 surgical, 22 radiology, 2 clinical physiology departments and 1 ultrasound laboratory (total 61). The departments had a total of 110 ultrasound scanners. The median year of purchase of these scanners was 1985 (range 1976-1990). 488 persons performed ultrasound examinations; the examiners were mainly doctors (72%). 40% of the pregnant population was routinely offered an ultrasound scan in the 15-20th week of gestation. Of these 2/5 were offered screening for fetal malformations. One department offered examinations in both the 19th and 34th week. The scanning capacity, as judged by the departments themselves, was also assessed through the study.