Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 17, 2026

Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma FAST Exam: Image Acquisition
Published on: September 22, 2023
Abdominopelvic ultrasonographic findings after uncomplicated delivery
R Lousquy1, E Pernin2, Y Delpech1
1Department of gynecology and obstetrics, hôpital Lariboisière, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75010 Paris, France; Université Diderot, Paris 7, Sorbonne Paris-Cité, 10, rue de Verdun, 75010 Paris, France.
Purpose:
To prospectively determine the range of abdominopelvic ultrasonographic findings, including Doppler resistance index (RI) of uterine arteries, 2 and 24 hours after uncomplicated delivery.
Method:
Women who delivered vaginally or after cesarean section without complication from January 2012 to April 2012 in a tertiary care hospital were prospectively included. Abdominopelvic ultrasonography, including uterine artery resistance index (RI) at duplex Doppler ultrasonography, was performed 2 hours and 24 hours after delivery.
Results:
Ninety-two women (mean age, 32.7 years) were included. Sixty-one (66%) delivered vaginally and 31 (34%) had cesarean section. Twenty-four hours after vaginal delivery, endometrial and anterior wall thicknesses dropped and uterine width increased (P<0.001). No changes in uterine length and posterior wall thickness were observed between 2 and 24 hours after delivery. Transient pelvic free-fluid effusion was observed in 1/92 woman (1%). Uterine artery RI increased significantly from 2 to 24 hours (0.50 vs 0.57, respectively; P<0.001).
Conclusion:
Pelvic free-fluid effusion is exceedingly rare in the early course of uncomplicated delivery. A significant increase in uterine artery RI during the 24 hours following uncomplicated delivery is a normal finding. It can be anticipated that familiarity with these findings would result in more confident diagnosis of complications.
Related Concept Videos
Ultrasound I: Abdominal Ultrasonography
Abdominal ultrasonography, commonly known as abdominal ultrasound, is a vital, non-invasive medical imaging technique widely used in healthcare.
Procedure:
This diagnostic tool allows the clinician to visually inspect internal structures within the abdomen, including vital organs such as the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys, and spleen.
The abdominal ultrasound process begins with applying a special gel to the patient's skin over the abdomen. This gel enhances the...
Imaging Studies II: Ultrasonography
Abdominal Regions and Quadrants
The simpler quadrants approach, which is more commonly used in medicine, subdivides the cavity with one horizontal and one vertical line that intersects at the patient's umbilicus (navel). The four...
Assessment of the Abdomen II: Percussion
Percussion
Percussion is an essential...
Assessment of the Abdomen I: Inspection and Auscultation
The abdominal examination is a cornerstone of clinical medicine, serving as a critical tool in diagnosing various gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. It involves a systematic approach that includes inspection and auscultation, each with distinct yet complementary roles in assessing the abdomen. This article will delve into these two primary methods healthcare professionals use to examine the abdomen.
Inspection of the Abdomen
The first step in any abdominal examination is inspection....
Assessment of the Abdomen III: Palpation

