APPLICATION OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL (3D) AND FOUR-DIMENSIONAL (4D) ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTICS IN OBSTETRICS IN NORMALLY RUNNING PREGNANCY
Keywords:
sonography, gestational age, fetus, early diagnosisAbstract
Three-dimensional (3D) and four-dimensional (4D) ultrasound are a natural evolution of technology in
medicine and were first demonstrated nearly 25 years ago. The development of modern medicine and the
introduction of technologies in the diagnosis and treatment of patients determines the relevance of the application of
3D and 4D ultrasound in obstetrics as a primary or additional diagnostic tool. Purpose: The purpose of the study is to
analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of application of three-dimensional and four-dimensional ultrasound
diagnostics in the different stages of pregnancy by using clinical data compared with literature sources. Material and
methods: Documentary and historical methods were used, as well as own clinical observations during the follow-up
of 121 pregnancies, through which a comparative analysis was made and the positive role of the application of
3D/4D ultrasound for early monitoring of fetal behavior and development processes was proven. normal pregnancy
in different gestational periods. Results and discussion: The present study, conducted by 3D ultrasound in 121
fetuses from all stages of normal pregnancy, showed an increasing frequency of different movement patterns, such
as isolated arm and leg movements, stretching, as well as head movements, during the first trimester. From 14 to 19
weeks of gestation, the fruits are very active and the longest period between movements lasts only 5-6 minutes. The
application of 4D sonography in the study of fetal facial movements reveals the existence of a full range of facial
expressions, including smiling and crying, similar to emotional expressions in adults, in the 2nd and 3rd trimester. In
the second quarter, there was a steady increase in the frequencies of almost all facial motor patterns. No statistically
significant differences were found in either the quality or the quantity of fetal hand or facial movements between
term and preterm infants. Conclusion: A good understanding of the relationship between fetal behavior and
developmental processes at different gestational periods can provide an important distinction between normal and
abnormal development and enable early diagnosis of structural or functional abnormalities.
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