Panoramic 4D-ultrasound is a highly effective diagnostic imaging tool that allows doctors to conduct accurate diagnosis for pregnancy conditions or complications. The difference between a 3D-Ultrasound and a 4D-ultrasound is that a 4D-ultrasound has an extra time dimension in the generated output, resulting in a real-time broadcast of a 3D-ultrasound “moving-image”, much like a video.
In early pregnancy, this diagnostic tool can accurately identify embryonic demise, ectopic pregnancies. In late pregnancy stages towards labour, the information it can provide helps doctors determine the best delivery method for the safety of both mother and child, evaluation of the state of the cervix etc.
Some of the variables that can be checked with this tool are such as:
- Baby’s development progress
- Baby’s heartrate
- Baby’s position in the uterus
- Any potential defects of the baby
- Positions of the placenta
- Neighbouring structures and organs around the baby
4D-ultrasound includes the following features:
- Allows a live feed of the imaging for patients to view
- Patient does not need to hold in urine for this procedure
- 3-dimensional and depth perception view of the embryo/ fetus
- Large stereoscopic visual field for allows for a clearer output
A lot of hospitals tend to dismiss 4D-Ultrasound as being medically unnecessary, costly, or simply a lack of this service; and usually just recommend a standard transvaginal ultrasound. However, this diagnostic tool provides in-depth detail and information about the baby’s development progress, allowing us to closely monitor any potential abnormal growth, fetal demise or threatened miscarriages. Especially for patients with a history of recurrent miscarriages, our 4D-ultrasound can accurately identify the current blood-flow demands of the fetus during pregnancy by looking at the surrounding blood vessels and also accurately observe the shape and size of your uterus (uterine septate, naïve uterus etc), allowing our doctors to anticipate and prevent potential miscarriages.
Our medical staff in Antai Hospital are well trained and highly proficient in this diagnostic tool, providing greater sensitivity and accuracy of the output image, far surpassing the capabilities of a conventional transvaginal ultrasound. It has slowly developed into one of the most significant and irreplaceable parts of our prenatal evaluation procedure.