ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Minerva Obstetrics and Gynecology 2022 August;74(4):325-9

DOI: 10.23736/S2724-606X.21.04851-X

Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Universal third-trimester obstetrical ultrasonography: a cross-sectional analysis of a national survey

Marco LA VERDE ¹ ✉, Marco TORELLA ¹, Giampaolo MAININI ², Gaetano RIEMMA ¹, Anna CONTE ¹, Nicola COLACURCI ¹, Antonio MOLLO ³, Maurizio GUIDA ⁴, Ettore CICINELLI ⁵, Pasquale DE FRANCISCIS ¹, the Board of the Società Campano-Calabro-Apulo-Lucana di Ostetricia e Ginecologia (SCCAL) 

¹ Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, Luigi Vanvitelli University of Campania, Naples, Italy; ² San Leonardo Hospital, Castellammare di Stabia, Naples, Italy; ³ Schola Medica Salernitana, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Baronissi, Salerno, Italy; ⁴ Unit of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy; ⁵ Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy

BACKGROUND: Universal third-trimester obstetrical ultrasonography represents a medical debate. The current survey was conducted to evaluate the actual use of third-trimester scan and understand gynecologists’ aptitude.
METHODS: A survey was mailed to 128 gynecologists between January and February 2020. Data about their demographic’s characteristics, hospital ward, and self-assessment questionnaires were recorded. Results were evaluated by using combined analysis.
RESULTS: Overall, 128 (29.8%) gynecologists answered. Their age ranged between 45 and 64 years (70.3% of the total, 90/128). The half part worked in hospitals and university hospitals (39.8%, 51/128 and 10.1%, 13/128, respectively), 26.5% (34/128) worked in private hospitals and 23.4% (30/128) in public ambulatories. The neonatal intensive care unit was present in 37.5% (48/128) of the cases. 96.0% of gynecologists surveyed (123/128) offered the universal third-trimester scan (28-32 weeks) and 78.1% of the physician recommended the universal 35-37 weeks ultrasonographical exam. A subanalysis among third level hospital gynecologists versus gynecologists without neonatal intensive care unit showed no statistical difference.
CONCLUSIONS: This survey reveals extensive use of third-trimester scan in low-risk pregnancy. Nevertheless, randomized controlled trials concerning the universal third-trimester scan are required to validate this clinical attitude.

KEY WORDS: Pregnancy care; Ultrasound; Universal third-trimester scan; Fetal development; Physician survey