Routine use of third-trimester routine ultrasound increased detection rates of small-for-gestational-age and large-for-gestational-age fetuses. This did not alter perinatal outcomes. Third-trimester ultrasound screening should not be rejected before a policy of adding Doppler surveillance to the high-risk group identified has been investigated further.

A labour admission test is still routine practice in most obstetric units in the Western world when there is little evidence on its benefits. The results from this study may provide some reconsideration for such practice, and for more research.

No abstract

The risk of spontaneous abortion and intra-uterine infections in pregnancies associated with an intra-uterine conceptive device (IUD) is well documented. There is a general agreement regarding the desirability of removing the IUD as soon as the pregnancy is diagnosed. When the string is not visible, the proper management is controversial. This study reports the successful retrieval of occult IUD in early pregnancy under ultrasonic guidance in 8 out of 9 women. In the one case where we failed to remove the IUD, the women chose to terminate the pregnancy by legal abortion. Seven women completed their pregnancy, while one experienced a spontaneous abortion. We consider the removal of the occult IUD in pregnancy under ultrasonic guidance to be a useful procedure.

No abstract