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[jough]

It seems from his blog that at least the blog character "Chris" is going to be a father in... what, four to five months?

Yes, congratulations Chris.  This is certainly a fertile board.

[CortJstr]

Did anybody here do a "keepsake ultrasound"? At work we just had a big meeting about how those are bad and terrible and in some states illegal.

[AlohaDawg]

We kept copies of the physician referred ultrasound during the second trimester but I assume a 'keepsake' ultrasound would be one of those high-energy 3-D/4-D ultrasounds that the patient requests and pays for, is that right?

Ultrasound can be used to destroy cancerous cells; it is a potentially destructive form of energy if misapplied. . I think that there is a need for strong regulation of these devices and their application, so I guess, for the most part, I agree with the FDA in terms of potentials for abuse and risk. I realize that people running these mall kiosks and storefronts aren't in business to hurt people or their unborn kids, but this is something that should be studied more and should be subject to a fair policy that protects everyone involved.

[CortJstr]

We kept copies of the physician referred ultrasound during the second trimester but I assume a 'keepsake' ultrasound would be one of those high-energy 3-D/4-D ultrasounds that the patient requests and pays for, is that right?

A keepsake is any scan you have done without interpretation. So even a regular 2D scan is a keepsake if there's no radiologist who sees it. The main fear is that people will pay for the keepsake then never get another because hey, if something was wrong the lady at the strip mall would've told us. The fact that an US could cause a problem is a secondary conern, at least with traditional US scans.

[AlohaDawg]

right, so a keepsake would never be done in a hospital setting since a person just can't demand one and no hospital would take the liability on.

Seems to me most of these would be done with potentially unlicensed operators, not necessarily well inspected or maintained equipment, and best of all,  the illiusion to some ignorant folks that they had a medical procedure.

Sweet.

[CortJstr]

right, so a keepsake would never be done in a hospital setting since a person just can't demand one and no hospital would take the liability on.

Seems to me most of these would be done with potentially unlicensed operators, not necessarily well inspected or maintained equipment, and best of all,  the illiusion to some ignorant folks that they had a medical procedure.

Right. But if you get a real US and the doctor offers you a print as a memento that is perfectly legitimate.

That depends. I work in mammo so I'm only tangentially aware of US rules. I think it varies by state of the operater has to be an RT (who often work 2nd jobs) or just some schmo. I know these machines aren't being accredited by a state/national Accrediting Body (which is voluntary anyway) and I doubt they're being inspected annually by a medical physicist.

[arkabee]

A keepsake is any scan you have done without interpretation. So even a regular 2D scan is a keepsake if there's no radiologist who sees it. The main fear is that people will pay for the keepsake then never get another because hey, if something was wrong the lady at the strip mall would've told us. The fact that an US could cause a problem is a secondary conern, at least with traditional US scans.

i'm confused.

so is there something dangerous with getting an ultrasound at the mall?

[V-Adore]

A keepsake is any scan you have done without interpretation. So even a regular 2D scan is a keepsake if there's no radiologist who sees it. The main fear is that people will pay for the keepsake then never get another because hey, if something was wrong the lady at the strip mall would've told us. The fact that an US could cause a problem is a secondary conern, at least with traditional US scans.

i'm confused.

so is there something dangerous with getting an ultrasound at the mall?

I think the idea is that, if you get an ultrasound at the mall, you may decide that you don't need a real ultrasound that gets evaluated by a medical professional. I don't know about how actively dangerous "keepsake" ultrasounds are, but I can grok the idea that they're passively dangerous by letting people think that they've had this necessary diagnostic when they really haven't.

[Va]

I had a keepsake ultrasound at an outfit called "Fetal Fotos" in Atlanta.  The equipment there was a damn sight newer and spiffier than that at my doctor's office, and the walls of the waiting room were plastered with training certificates.

[CortJstr]

I had a keepsake ultrasound at an outfit called "Fetal Fotos" in Atlanta.  The equipment there was a damn sight newer and spiffier than that at my doctor's office, and the walls of the waiting room were plastered with training certificates.

As long as you had another ultrasound that was interpretted by a radiologist then the danger is minimal. And it sounds like Fetal Fotos is staffed by licensed RTs working a 2nd job. But many of the kiosk places aren't like that.

Also, I just found 4 US providers in Atlanta that are accredited. And I can tell you from experience that accreditation is a much stonger indicator of quality than new equipment. There are some brand new mammo machines that I would hesitant to let my family members on.

[AugustWest]

I feel like Abe Simpson by saying this, but dang, what a world we live in today.  You can go to the mall and get 3D ultrasound pictures of your unborn child just like Olan Mills.  That's amazing, isn't it?

/puts onion on belt.

[Va]

As long as you had another ultrasound that was interpretted by a radiologist then the danger is minimal.

I had three ultrasounds at my OB/GYNs office, but I don't think there were any radiologists involved.

I think it bears mentioning that it is far from proven that routine ultrasounds for all pregnant women increase positive outcomes for mothers or babies, and ultrasound is not risk-free.  Some people even think that some babies might be able to hear some of the, er, ultra-sounds at certain points, and that it drives them batty--when I first read this, my mind immediately went to my 12 week ultrasound, when my baby started jumping and bouncing around shortly after the exam began. At the time it seemed really cute, but now I wonder if it was the equivalent of an air raid siren in her tiny skull.

Even though I really enjoyed getting to see my baby, I probably will not be getting any ultrasounds during my next pregnancy unless there is a clinical indication.

[CortJstr]

As long as you had another ultrasound that was interpretted by a radiologist then the danger is minimal.

I had three ultrasounds at my OB/GYNs office, but I don't think there were any radiologists involved.
...
Even though I really enjoyed getting to see my baby, I probably will not be getting any ultrasounds during my next pregnancy unless there is a clinical indication.

There may have been a radiologist you just never actually saw her. Many patients never actually meet their radiologist (or Interpretting Physican if they aren't specifically a radiologist) if the exams are negative. It's a lot like going to the dentist in that respect.

That's a good idea. Your dr. might recommend an US just to check in but extra scans of any type aren't generally a great idea. That's why so many groups have come out against full-body CT scans as "baselines."

AW, do you have 5 bees for a quarter?

[AugustWest]

The interesting (gruesome) part was from where I was sitting I had both the live action and the US monitor action in my sightline.  So I switched my focus from the doctors actions to the monitor when he was driving the needle and got to see the approach and insertion internal view.

I agree.  Having experienced this now almost 12 years ago, it is a strange sight to see the needle from the outside and the inside, so to speak.

[Nabubrush]

ADDENDUM: Spouse just called to let me know that the doctor called with the amnio results.

Clear board, all is well, no signs of any developmental issues.

Whoooo - Hooooooo!