Ultrasound examination of fetal morphology, II-III trimester, singleton pregnancy, with Doppler (photos included)

Fetal morphological ultrasound examination in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy with Doppler is a highly accurate, non-invasive and safe diagnostic procedure that provides a comprehensive assessment of fetal development, placental condition and blood flow within the “mother–placenta–fetus” system. The examination is accompanied by photographs and a recording on a CD, which is particularly important for documenting the progress of the pregnancy and for future medical consultations.

Structures assessed:

• Fetus — position, fetal movements, anatomical structures, biometry and estimated fetal weight.
• Placenta — location, structure, degree of maturity and thickness.
• Umbilical cord — number of vessels, site of attachment and blood flow assessment.
• Blood flow in the uterine and umbilical arteries — assessed using Doppler.
• Middle cerebral artery, abdominal aorta and fetal ductus venosus — key indicators of fetal circulation.
• Amniotic fluid and condition of the uterus.

Purpose of the examination

• Detailed assessment of fetal growth and development during the second and third trimesters.
• Assessment of placental function and fetoplacental blood flow.
• Early detection of signs of fetal growth restriction (FGR).
• Detection of placenta previa, premature placental maturation or placental thickening.
• Assessment of the risk of fetal hypoxia, pre-eclampsia and fetoplacental insufficiency.
• Prediction and prevention of possible pregnancy complications.

Indications

• Routine screening in the second or third trimester.
• Arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, thrombophilia and other high-risk factors.
• Abnormal fetal growth or discrepancy between fetal size and gestational age.
• Suspected abnormal placental attachment or umbilical cord abnormalities.
• History of intrauterine fetal death, fetal growth restriction or complications during previous pregnancies.
• Monitoring as part of an individualized pregnancy management plan.

Procedure

The patient lies on her back. The physician applies a special gel to the abdomen and performs the examination using an ultrasound probe. Fetal biometric measurements are taken, and blood flow is assessed using Doppler. Key images and video recordings are saved to a CD. The procedure takes approximately 30–40 minutes.

Fetal morphological ultrasound with Doppler in the second and third trimesters of a singleton pregnancy is an important and informative examination that provides reliable monitoring of the fetus and placenta. Timely detection of abnormalities allows the physician to make appropriate clinical decisions and help ensure the safety of both mother and fetus.

Medical sources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK570574/
https://www.isuog.org/static/4e2ed89e-fa8a-42c2-9c0929cd89cb58ff/ISUOG-Practice-Guidelines-routine-mid-trimester-fetal-ultrasound.pdf
https://radiopaedia.org/cases/normal-obstetrics-ultrasound-third-trimester-singleton-1
https://fetalmedicine.org/var/uploads/Doppler-in-Obstetrics.pdf
https://radiologykey.com/obstetric-ultrasound-second-and-third-trimester/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7546290/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1521693425000173