Next‐generation monitoring in obstetrics: Assessing the accuracy of non‐piezo portable ultrasound technology

Abstract Introduction The emergence of handheld ultrasound devices capable of connecting to cell phones or tablets heralds a significant advancement in medical technology, particularly within the field of obstetrics. These devices offer the promise of immediate bedside ultrasound examinations, poten...

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Main Authors: Ruben Plöger, Charlotte Behning, Adeline Walter, Jorge Jimenez Cruz, Ulrich Gembruch, Brigitte Strizek, Florian Recker
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-10-01
Series:Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14922
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author Ruben Plöger
Charlotte Behning
Adeline Walter
Jorge Jimenez Cruz
Ulrich Gembruch
Brigitte Strizek
Florian Recker
author_facet Ruben Plöger
Charlotte Behning
Adeline Walter
Jorge Jimenez Cruz
Ulrich Gembruch
Brigitte Strizek
Florian Recker
author_sort Ruben Plöger
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction The emergence of handheld ultrasound devices capable of connecting to cell phones or tablets heralds a significant advancement in medical technology, particularly within the field of obstetrics. These devices offer the promise of immediate bedside ultrasound examinations, potentially revolutionizing patient care by enabling fetal assessments in diverse settings. Material and Methods This prospective study aimed to validate the reliability of non‐piezo, chip‐based handheld ultrasound devices in clinical obstetric practice. Conducted in a university hospital obstetric ward, the study included 100 pregnant women between 17 and 41 weeks of gestation. Participants underwent ultrasound examinations using both conventional and portable point‐of‐care ultrasound (POCUS) devices to compare the accuracy in estimating fetal weight and other parameters, such as cardiac activity, fetal presentation, placental location, and amniotic fluid volume. The reliability and agreement between the devices were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients, Bland–Altman plots, and Pearson correlation coefficients. Results The results show a near‐perfect agreement (0.98) and correlation (r = 0.98, p < 0.001) for estimated fetal weight and most biometry measurements between the two types of ultrasound devices, with slight deviations in head circumference and amniotic fluid index measurements. Subgroup analysis revealed variations in agreement and correlation rates with higher BMI and advanced gestational age, indicating areas for further refinement. Conclusions These findings affirm the high reliability of handheld ultrasound devices for basic obstetric ultrasound evaluations, supporting their integration into daily clinical practice. This technology improves the flexibility and immediacy of prenatal care, although further research is needed to optimize its application across patient populations and treatment settings.
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spelling doaj-art-aa6cd623f2bb4dc2868ea8c77dcf24152025-08-20T03:22:18ZengWileyActa Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica0001-63491600-04122024-10-01103102031204110.1111/aogs.14922Next‐generation monitoring in obstetrics: Assessing the accuracy of non‐piezo portable ultrasound technologyRuben Plöger0Charlotte Behning1Adeline Walter2Jorge Jimenez Cruz3Ulrich Gembruch4Brigitte Strizek5Florian Recker6Department of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine University Hospital Bonn Bonn GermanyInstitute for Medical Biometry, Informatics and Epidemiology University Hospital Bonn Bonn GermanyDepartment of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine University Hospital Bonn Bonn GermanyDepartment of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine University Hospital Bonn Bonn GermanyDepartment of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine University Hospital Bonn Bonn GermanyDepartment of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine University Hospital Bonn Bonn GermanyDepartment of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine University Hospital Bonn Bonn GermanyAbstract Introduction The emergence of handheld ultrasound devices capable of connecting to cell phones or tablets heralds a significant advancement in medical technology, particularly within the field of obstetrics. These devices offer the promise of immediate bedside ultrasound examinations, potentially revolutionizing patient care by enabling fetal assessments in diverse settings. Material and Methods This prospective study aimed to validate the reliability of non‐piezo, chip‐based handheld ultrasound devices in clinical obstetric practice. Conducted in a university hospital obstetric ward, the study included 100 pregnant women between 17 and 41 weeks of gestation. Participants underwent ultrasound examinations using both conventional and portable point‐of‐care ultrasound (POCUS) devices to compare the accuracy in estimating fetal weight and other parameters, such as cardiac activity, fetal presentation, placental location, and amniotic fluid volume. The reliability and agreement between the devices were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients, Bland–Altman plots, and Pearson correlation coefficients. Results The results show a near‐perfect agreement (0.98) and correlation (r = 0.98, p < 0.001) for estimated fetal weight and most biometry measurements between the two types of ultrasound devices, with slight deviations in head circumference and amniotic fluid index measurements. Subgroup analysis revealed variations in agreement and correlation rates with higher BMI and advanced gestational age, indicating areas for further refinement. Conclusions These findings affirm the high reliability of handheld ultrasound devices for basic obstetric ultrasound evaluations, supporting their integration into daily clinical practice. This technology improves the flexibility and immediacy of prenatal care, although further research is needed to optimize its application across patient populations and treatment settings.https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14922amniotic fluidchip‐basedfetal biometrygynecologyobstetricspiezo‐based
spellingShingle Ruben Plöger
Charlotte Behning
Adeline Walter
Jorge Jimenez Cruz
Ulrich Gembruch
Brigitte Strizek
Florian Recker
Next‐generation monitoring in obstetrics: Assessing the accuracy of non‐piezo portable ultrasound technology
Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
amniotic fluid
chip‐based
fetal biometry
gynecology
obstetrics
piezo‐based
title Next‐generation monitoring in obstetrics: Assessing the accuracy of non‐piezo portable ultrasound technology
title_full Next‐generation monitoring in obstetrics: Assessing the accuracy of non‐piezo portable ultrasound technology
title_fullStr Next‐generation monitoring in obstetrics: Assessing the accuracy of non‐piezo portable ultrasound technology
title_full_unstemmed Next‐generation monitoring in obstetrics: Assessing the accuracy of non‐piezo portable ultrasound technology
title_short Next‐generation monitoring in obstetrics: Assessing the accuracy of non‐piezo portable ultrasound technology
title_sort next generation monitoring in obstetrics assessing the accuracy of non piezo portable ultrasound technology
topic amniotic fluid
chip‐based
fetal biometry
gynecology
obstetrics
piezo‐based
url https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14922
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