Evidence mapPaperPMID 39390612Full record

SynthesisPrenatal diagnosis2025

The Potential of Tele-Ultrasound, Handheld and Self-Operated Ultrasound in Pregnancy Care: A Systematic Review.

Shariva S Kariman, Josephus F M van den Heuvel, Bauke M E Adriaanse, Dick Oepkes, Mireille N Bekker

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Prenatal diagnosis, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Self-administered tele-ultrasound in fetal telemonitoring: Prospective study.Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica · 2026
    Observational
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Shariva S KarimanDivision of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Josephus F M van den HeuvelDivision of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-1285-1019
Bauke M E AdriaanseDivision of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Dick OepkesDivision of Obstetrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Mireille N BekkerDivision of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo explore the use of tele-ultrasound and handheld or self-operated ultrasound in pregnancy.

methodsA systematic search provided 31 studies. The risk of bias for each study was assessed. Results were analyzed and presented in a narrative overview in four domains: tele-ultrasound, patient-operated ultrasound, handheld devices and low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).

resultsThe quality of studies was generally low or fair based on the NIH Quality Assessment Tools. Fetal tele-ultrasound services (11 studies) are feasible and especially helpful in rural areas or with increased centralization of specialist care. Three studies with patient-operated ultrasound concluded its feasibility with good-to-high experiences. The use of handheld devices in pregnancy (eight studies) showed similar ultrasound results when compared to standard devices. In LMICs, innovative use of ultrasound (nine studies) can facilitate access to obstetric care performed by trained as well as unskilled caregivers combined with remote evaluation by an expert.

conclusionsInnovations in ultrasound in pregnancy care have shown promising results for application. Although most studies demonstrated benefits for pregnant women or care providers, high-level evidence is scarce. High-quality studies on innovations are needed to assess medical outcomes, patient and provider experiences and costs.

Indexed as

Prenatal CareTelemedicineUltrasonography, PrenatalFemaleHumansPregnancy

Identifiers

PMID39390612
PMCPMC12180574

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.