Physicians' perceptions of the daily use of a handheld ultrasound device in the labor room.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to describe the perception of physicians who use a handheld ultrasound (US) device in an intensive perinatal care unit. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study in the labor ward of an intensive perinatal care unit between November 2021 and May 2022. Obstetrics & Gynecology residents in rotation in our department during this time were recruited as participants in this study. All the participants were provided with a handheld US device Vscan Air™ (GE Healthcare, Zipf, Austria) to use during their normal days and nights practice in labor ward. At the end of their 6 months rotation, participants completed an anonymous surveys about their perceptions of the handheld US device. The survey included questions about the ease of use in clinical situations, the amount of time of initial diagnosis, performances of the device, feasibility to use, and patient's satisfaction with the use of the device. RESULTS: 6 residents in their last year of residency were included. All the participants were satisfied with the device and would like to use it in their future practice. They all agreed that the probe was easy to handle and that the mobile application was easy to use. Image quality was always considered good by the participants and 5/6 of them declared that the handheld US device was always sufficient and did not require any confirmation with a conventional US machine. 5/6 of the participants considered that the handheld US device allowed them to gain time for clinical decision but half of them did not estimate that the use of the handheld US device improved their ability to make a clinical diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that the Vscan Air™ is easy to use, with a good quality image and reduces the amount of time to make a clinical diagnosis. Handheld US device could be useful in the daily practice in maternity hospital.

Cesarean delivery on maternal request: How do French obstetricians feel about it?

OBJECTIVE: The number of cesarean deliveries on maternal request (CDMR) is unknown in France. We aimed to evaluate the rate of obstetricians willing to perform a CDMR in 2020 in Paris and to compare OB/GYN seniors' and residents' points of view about CDMR using six hypothetical clinical scenarios. STUDY DESIGN: A survey was conducted between January to March 2020 with an anonymous self-administrated questionnaire sent by email to OB/GYN seniors working in 16 public and private maternity units and residents of Paris. Questionnaire was based on previous peer-reviewed literature. Socio professional characteristics were collected. OB/GYN seniors were asked if they agree to perform a CDMR and have already done one. OB/GYN seniors' and residents' points of view on six hypothetical clinical scenarios (CDMR, scarred uterus, breech presentation, multiple pregnancy, history of perineal tears or stillbirth) were compared. RESULTS: Eighty-three OB/GYN seniors and one hundred and fifteen residents answered to our questionnaire. Twenty-three (27,7%) OB/GYN seniors were ready to perform a CDMR, mostly because they think that mode of delivery is a woman's choice. Physicians working in a private maternity unit or having an exclusive private practice were significantly more willing to perform a cesarean delivery on maternal request. No differences were found between the OB/GYN seniors' and residents' point of view on the six hypothetical clinical scenarios. A third of OB/GYN seniors and residents reported having done at least one CDMR during their career or during their residency. CONCLUSION: One out of four OB/GYN senior interviewed is ready to perform a CDMR in Paris in 2020. OB/GYN seniors and residents share the same point of view concerning CDMR.