EP16.01: Effect of a new method of assessment and onsite training on the reproducibility of the measurement of uterine artery Doppler

To 1) compare uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI) measured by using sagittal versus transverse approach; and 2) determine whether providing onsite training to inexperienced sonographers can achieve reproducible UtA-PI measurement by both approaches. A prospective study was conducted to include singleton pregnancies at 11-13 weeks' gestation. The UtA-PI by the transverse and sagittal approaches were evaluated in 42 women by an experienced sonographer. The effect of onsite training provided by experienced to inexperienced sonographers (no prior experience in the measurement of UtA-PI) was evaluated in 35 women. All sonographers measured UtA-PI at the level of internal os using both approaches on a random basis. Intra-class correlation (ICC), Bland-Altman analysis and Wilcoxon signed rank test were performed. There were no significant differences in the median UtA-PI between sagittal and transverse approaches for both experienced and inexperienced sonographers (p>0.05). For the experienced sonographer, the ICC between the two approaches for the measurement of UtA-PI was near perfect. Among the inexperienced sonographers, the two techniques also had near perfect ICC. Both techniques had near perfect inter-sonographer reliability (table 1). Both techniques required comparable timing (sec) for the measurement of UtA-PI (sagittal vs. transverse: 56.1 (38.8-84.1) vs. 49.3 (29.5-84.1); p=0.054). The measurements of UtA-PI obtained by the sagittal and transverse approaches are comparable, and can be utilised in the first trimester screening of pre-eclampsia. EP16.01: Table 1. Reproducibility of the measurement of UtA-PI in experienced and inexperienced sonographers