Ultrasound for obstetric emergencies

Up to 15% of women will experience a complication during pregnancy. Prompt diagnosis of the problem and appropriate management are imperative to a positive outcome for both the mother and the fetus. Ultrasound is the ideal imaging modality in the pregnant patient because it can be performed at the bedside, is fast, and confers no known risk to the fetus or mother. This article describes the use of ultrasound in the emergent setting. Additional correlative imaging with MRI is presented in difficult cases.