Ultrasonography in antenatal management: should it be a routine procedure?

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Medical Imaging
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Routine antenatal ultrasound is widely practiced globally.
• Current evidence from randomized clinical trials does not unequivocally support its routine use in antenatal management.
• While not biologically harmful, definitive benefits for low-risk pregnancies remain undocumented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the uncertainty surrounding the benefits and risks of routine antenatal ultrasound.
• To highlight the need for evidence-based evaluation of routine ultrasonography in low-risk pregnancies.
• To propose a path forward for research on antenatal ultrasound efficacy.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing randomized clinical trials on antenatal ultrasound.
• Identification of research gaps concerning routine ultrasonography in low-risk populations.
• Recommendation for future randomized trials to investigate clinical, psychological, and economic outcomes.

Main Results:

• Randomized clinical trials have failed to provide conclusive evidence for routine antenatal ultrasound benefits.
• There is a lack of studies evaluating the clinical, psychological, or economic advantages in low-risk patients.
• Diagnostic capabilities of ultrasound are increasingly recognized, but not linked to proven routine benefits.

Conclusions:

• Further randomized trials are essential to clarify the benefits and risks of routine antenatal ultrasound.
• Research should focus on clinically low-risk patients who do not typically undergo routine scanning.
• Future trials are needed to guide policy and practice regarding antenatal ultrasonography.