What can be seen with a detailed/second level ultrasound?
The main purpose of the detailed examination is to examine the internal organs of the fetus anatomically from head to toe with ultrasound. In fact, the popular expression “are the hands and feet in order? ” describes the anatomical examination of the fetus very well. It is often called an anatomy scan in European countries.
Who should have a detailed ultrasound?
Every pregnant woman has the right to have a detailed ultrasound and to have detailed information about all the organs of her baby. We believe that detailed ultrasound should be offered to all pregnant women without exception, not only whensoft markers (bright bowel, bright spot in the heart, choroidal flexus cyst in the brain or even ARSA) or other risk factors are detected on ultrasound.
Since the number of perinatologists is limited all over the world, the lack of infrastructure in this area is not the responsibility of the obstetrician; moreover, when there is a problem, the court does not rule in favor of the physician because of the lack of infrastructure. The duty of the obstetrician is to provide the right information and recommendation to the patient; whether or not the pregnant woman should have a detailed ultrasound is a matter for the family and is their responsibility.
At which weeks should a detailed ultrasound be performed?
Nowadays, with high quality ultrasound devices, it can be performed in the early period, that is, from 11-14 weeks of pregnancy.
Ideally, it should be done between 18-23 weeks of gestation, as all organs are already developed in the fetus at these weeks, and every organ can be visualized with ultrasound.
Although it is difficult due to the position of the fetus, a detailed ultrasound can be performed at later gestational weeks.
Detailed or targeted ultrasound examinations are also performed in the last months of pregnancy, as some anomalies of the fetus can be detected late in pregnancy.
COLOR DOPPLER
Doppler analysis during an ultrasound examination is an examination method in which the vessels of the fetus are shown and evaluated in color and is an important parameter that indicates whether the baby is in good condition.
The most commonly used vessels are the umbilical artery, which supplies blood from the mother to the baby, the vein in the baby’s brain (middle cerebral artery), and the ductus venosus, which passes through the liver to the heart.
Doppler analysis is especially used in monitoring risky pregnancies, monitoring the weight of the baby (fetus) and timing the delivery. It is also used in the diagnosis of maternal hypertension, twin pregnancies, fetal blood values and some anomalies.
What is ultrasound? Is there any harm?
Ultrasound has no known side effects because it does not use radiation. High-frequency sound waves are used to produce an image of the baby or the organ being examined on the screen.