Guideline No. 421: Point of Care Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Abstract

Objective: To provide an opinion regarding the usefulness of point of care ultrasound in obstetrics and gynaecology.

Target population: Women with pregnancy-related complications or issues who could benefit from an urgent bedside sonographic evaluation.

Options: Point of care ultrasound is a readily accessible option, requiring few resources.

Benefits, harms, and costs: This low-cost imaging option can expedite appropriate patient management, enhance provider confidence, and allay the patient's anxiety in a timely fashion. However, there is potential for error in imaging or interpretation, resulting in incorrect and potentially harmful patient management.

Evidence: MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library weres earched from 2009 to 2019. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and keywords were related to pregnancy, PoCUS, point of care ultrasound, and bedside ultrasound. This document represents an abstraction of the evidence rather than a methodological review.

Validation methods: The authors rated the quality of evidence and strength of recommendations using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. See online Appendix A (Tables A1 for definitions and A2 for interpretations of strong and weak recommendations).

Intended audience: Providers of urgent care for pregnant women (obstetricians and gynaecologists, family physicians, emergency room physicians, midwives, nurse practitioners, nurses).

Summary statement (grade ratings in parentheses): RECOMMENDATIONS (GRADE RATINGS IN PARENTHESES).

Keywords: diagnostic ultrasound; point of care testing, fetal.