What is the Scope of Ultrasound in OB-GYN?

To enhance the safe and efficient use of transabdominal and transvaginal sonography in reproductive medicine, infertility, gynecologic oncology, urogynecology, and normal and abnormal pregnancy, ultrasound training is provided for obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) residents. Obstetric ultrasound training's objective is to offer a comprehensive strategy that combines practical ultrasound instruction, necessary readings, and an online lecture series on obstetrics. A research initiative that included the development of the pelvic ultrasonography curriculum led to numerous national and international presentations and publications.

The residents spend one month each year of their postgraduate studies in the ultrasound clinic going through diverse situations to hone their technical abilities in doing OB-GYN ultrasounds. A study of the institution-specific online modules precedes the training, which is then followed by weekly rotational training sessions, practical training sessions, and, occasionally, ultrasound simulations. The resident spends specific time in the ultrasonography clinic during their four years of training and gets practical experience with antepartum patients who are admitted.

Residents who get thorough training are able to do organised ultrasound exams, produce organised reports, and graduate with proficiency in OB-GYN ultrasound. It is intended to assist them in gaining the fundamental understanding, theoretical background, and skill mastery of efficient diagnostic ultrasound that they can use in their clinical practice after completing their residency.

What is ultrasound?

In obstetrics and gynaecology, ultrasound is a crucial tool used in both patient diagnosis and patient treatment. To enhance ultrasound's effectiveness, it's crucial to comprehend how it works and the equipment used in clinical settings. The patient's body mass index and other factors affect the operator's ability to get an image of good quality.

Ultrasound employs sound frequencies greater than 20 kHz, the upper limit of the audible range. Frequencies between 1 and 15 MHz are used for medical applications. The transducer's piezoelectric crystals produce ultrasound. These crystals rapidly change shape when an electrical current is supplied, and the resulting vibrations create sound waves. When sound waves or echoes return to these crystals, in addition to generating sound waves, they also generate an electric current.

Sound pulses exit the transducer, pass through the patient, and come into contact with various tissues along the way. The way that different tissues interact with the sound waves that travel through them varies. Acoustic impedance is how this is referred to. The acoustic interface is the intersection of many tissues. A portion of the sound beam is echoed back to the transducer at each interface. This is how ultrasound works on a pulse-echo basis.

The ultrasonic machine records a single line of data as the electrical voltage that this echo causes in the piezoelectric crystal. A brightness level is attributed to the voltage. Brightness mode, or B-mode, is the process by which a cross-sectional image is created as several pulses leave the transducer and multiple echoes are received.

Required skillset

A sonographer needs to have excellent hand-eye coordination, precision, accuracy, the ability to work in a stressful environment, the ability to handle laboratory equipment well, computer proficiency, an eye for detail, the ability to coordinate the use of various equipment to produce accurate images, and the ability to record the precise data that the image has produced. In addition to technical abilities, the candidate should be compassionate and have a strong will to help patients with diverse illnesses. Additionally, the candidate must have the ability to speak quietly and be patient when dealing with patients of all ages. Making patients feel at ease and stress-free while having their operation is a valuable additional skill.

Course curriculum

The development of the applicants' medical imaging skills is the main goal of the ultrasonography course. The course covers topics such as anatomy, physiology, sonographic imaging of the musculoskeletal system, Doppler, CT imaging, MRI imaging, interventional radiology, clinical ultrasonography, obstetric ultrasound, abdominal ultrasound, and cardiovascular ultrasound.

The goal of the ultrasonography course curriculum is to prepare students to work with clinical ultrasound, helping physicians during medical imaging procedures, documenting the exact anatomy created during imaging, writing reports based on scanning, conducting examinations of various patients using ultrasound techniques, dealing with a variety of patients who have various physical conditions, and helping other staff members.

Candidates are given the opportunity to work with patients in their selected fields of expertise. They get familiar with the field of work and are able to advance autonomously in their careers thanks to this. It aids in the development of the solid technical and soft skills needed for this line of work.

Exploring the scope

Job profile	Role
Vascular Sonographer	A vascular sonographer is a specialist who uses ultrasound to diagnose problems with the brain, abdomen, and extremities. This method is employed to evaluate the blood flow to these bodily parts.
	The results of the diagnosis assist him in determining the precise dysfunction that is to blame for the condition.
Neuro sonographer	A neurosonographer uses imaging technology to diagnose conditions affecting the spine and brain.
	Images aid in the analysis of blood flow to the areas of the brain or spine where the problem has developed.
	Alzheimer's, epilepsy, tumours, compressed vertebrae, slip discs, paralysis, and other conditions affecting the spine and nervous system are among the common ailments that are diagnosed with this procedure.
Cardiac Sonographer	A specialist in diagnosing conditions affecting cardiac health is a cardiac sonographer.
	They use ultrasonic imaging and sound wave frequency to find images of the heart.
	The photos show the blood flow and any blockages, if any, in detail. After that, the sonographers can assist the patients in regaining their cardiovascular health.
OB-GYN Sonographer	Obstetrician gynecologists are experts in dealing with the imaging procedures related to pregnant women's health. They check the foetus' and the woman's reproductive health.
	By analysing real-time photos, they assist the patients by identifying the foetal growth, position, and any malfunction that is causing problems in the pregnancy and then providing treatments that can remedy that.
	They can also identify pregnancies. On the other hand, they identify the anomaly that is impairing the ability to conceive.
Abdominal Sonographer	A professional who uses ultrasound to find problems with the kidneys, urinary tract, and reproductive system is called an abdominal sonographer.
	They have received training in identifying the blockages and blood clots that are to blame for the patient's illness in the kidneys, abdomen, and liver.
Ultrasound Technician	Ultrasound technicians are skilled in a variety of sonographic fields. They examine individuals using the imaging diagnosis technique to determine their general health.
	They deal with vascular, breast, cardiac, muscular, and gynaecological issues. They collaborate closely with patients and aid in their recovery by creating real-time images with the aid of ultrasound methods.
X-Ray Technician	If the reason for the illness cannot be determined otherwise, the x-ray technician's job is to perform x-rays as instructed by the doctors. It enables clinicians to consult with patients in much clearer terms.
Radiographer	A radiographer is a specialist who creates images using an ultrasound scanner to assist in diagnosing a patient's conditions.
	The graphics give specifics on how the inside organs function. X-ray machines are also used to create the images.

Upcoming trends

Ultrasound in OB-GYN is made easy through the development of ultrasound technology, which has shown that it is accurate and efficient. Numerous things are happening in this context. Nearly all medical specialties are using the technology to spare patients from unnecessary and unreliable diagnostic procedures. The cost-effective technique has also shown its efficacy in low- and middle-income nations. The latest trends are being applied to this technology as a result of the positive reception it has received.

A few of these trends and advancements include point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), which is used in anaesthesia and critical care; real-time 3D ultrasound (3DUS) imaging; imaging devices with GPS; automated lesion segmentation; Canon Aplio 900 CV (used to visualise the heart); artificial intelligence; shear wave elastography (SWE), which is used to assess tissue displacement; and contrast ultrasound, which is used in oncology, neurology, infertility, cardiology, and drug delivery.