[Computer-assisted documentation and recording of findings of obstetrical ultrasound findings]

Since 1976 on our department obstetrical reports are generated and stored by computer. This kind of documentation has been also introduced for obstetrical ultrasound investigations. One year ago the part of our database for storing and recording the results of obstetrical ultrasound examinations was changed according to new purposes. This system was designed to support diagnosis of pathological findings and to arrange the results more clearly. Immediately after the investigation the results are entered in a terminal (3278 IBM). Our database is a CICS (Customer Information Computer System) application of the WAMIS (Wiener Allgemeines Medizinisches Informationssystem) from the IMC (Institut für Medizinische Computerdokumentation). The results of the investigation are printed after storage in the data base. The screen and the obtained print-out are divided into several sections according to medical purposes. Since the results of fetal measurement are displayed graphically, fetal growth and the change of normal or abnormal findings can be judged immediately. The new layout of the hardcopy of the results of our ultrasound investigations improves diagnosis of pathological findings. Each examinator is forced to visualize fetal organs, signs of fetal vitality and to perform standardized measurement. Therefore, the possibility to find pathological alteration is improved especially if the investigator is less experienced.