Impact of routine ultrasound scan on the management of women undergoing
manual exploration of the uterine cavity: a retrospective cohort study
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to discover whether
performing a routine prior-to discharge ultrasound after manual
exploration of the uterine cavity identified findings that led to
interventions and reduced postpartum complications. Design:
Retrospective multicenter cohort study was conducted between 2013 and
2019. Setting: Tzafon medical center and Emek medical center,
Israel Population or Sample: Among 1780 women, who underwent
manual exploration of the uterine cavity, 784 belonged to the routine
ultrasound group and 996 belonged to the clinically indicated ultrasound
group. Methods: A comparison was made between two medical
center’s protocols according to which all women underwent a routine
ultrasound after manual exploration of the uterus prior-to discharge
(Tzafon medical center protocol) versus performing ultrasound only if
clinically indicated (Emek medical center protocol). Main
outcome Measures: The primary outcome included a composite of late
post-partum hemorrhage, endometritis, uterine curettage and hysteroscopy
to remove products of conception. Results: In comparison
between the routine ultrasound group and the clinically indicated
ultrasound group, more women had abnormal sonographic findings ((74
(9%) versus 20 (2%), respectively; P=0.0001), more interventions,
particularly uterotonics administration (34 (4%) versus 6 (0.6%),
respectively; P=0.0001) without a different in the composite outcome (27
(3%) versus 41 (4%), respectively; P=0.46). Conclusion:
Conducting prior-to discharge ultrasound scan routinely after manual
exploration of the uterine cavity led to more interventions without
benefit regarding long-term outcomes. Therefore, this study supports
conducting an ultrasound after manual exploration of the uterus only if
clinically indicated.