Point-of-care ultrasound for evaluation of vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain in early pregnancy: Use by family physicians following focused training and certification

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Figure 1.
Diagnostic accuracy of FP POCUS versus radiologist-interpreted US occurring up to 10 days after POCUS documenting IUP: N=46.
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Figure 2.
Diagnostic accuracy of FP POCUS versus radiologist-interpreted US occurring up to 10 days after POCUS documenting FCA: N=46.

Table 1.

Demographic characteristics of patients who underwent POCUS: N=56.

CHARACTERISTIC	VALUE
Mean (SD) patient age, y	32.6 (3.9)
Mean (SD) gestational age, wk	9.5 (2.1)
Prior pregnancy, n (%)	54 (96.4)
Prior spontaneous miscarriage, n (%)	6 (10.7)
Documented known risk factors of ectopic pregnancy, n (%)
• Prior ectopic pregnancy	3 (5.4)
• History of IVF	1 (1.8)
• History of smoking	1 (1.8)
• History of PID	0 (0)
• History of STI	2 (3.6)
Clinical presentation, n (%)
• Vaginal bleeding	19 (33.9)
• Abdominal pain	13 (23.2)
• Abdominal examination performed	6 (10.7)
• Abdominal tenderness	1 (1.8)
• Bimanual examination performed	2 (3.6)
• Bimanual tenderness	0 (0)
POCUS findings, n (%)
• IUP documented	52 (92.9)
• FCA documented	43 (76.8)
• Radiologist-interpreted ultrasound within 10 d	46 (82.1)
• ED visit within 10 d	3 (5.4)
Pregnancy outcome, n (%)
• Viable pregnancy at 20 wk	49 (87.5)
• Spontaneous or missed miscarriage	3 (5.4)
• Induced abortion	2 (3.6)
• Unknown	2 (3.6)

ED—emergency department, FCA—fetal cardiac activity, IUP—intrauterine pregnancy, IVF—in vitro fertilization, PID—pelvic inflammatory disease, POCUS—point-of-care ultrasound, STI—sexually transmitted infection.