Obstetric ultrasound scans have in recent times become one of the most common investigative tools in the management of pregnant women all over the world. Obstetric scan is also freely available in most healthcare facilities in this country. Various categories of staff perform these scans. They include obstetric specialists, radiologists, medical officers, paramedic staff and trained sonographers. The level of training of these staff that performs these scans varies and most of them only perform level 1 obstetric scans. Whatever the level of scan, the expectations from the patients are the same. The patients expect whoever performs the scans to be able to detect whatever abnormalities that they might have with their pregnancy.
As most of us only perform level 1 obstetric scans, one might think that it is OK to miss some important abnormalities that may be detected in an obstetric scan. However, there are some pregnancy abnormalities that one is expected not to miss even if only a level 1 obstetric scan is performed, as it may be life threatening to either the mother or it could be a fetal condition that is too obvious and gross to miss.
The lecture will illustrate what the typical ultrasound findings of some of these conditions that one cannot afford to miss look like. Some of these conditions include: