Teleultrasound in obstetrics: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Jack Le Vance, Matthew Vaughan, Tanvi Bhatia, Leo Gurney, Victoria Hodgetts Morton and R Katie Morris

PLOS Medicine, 2026, vol. 23, issue 2, 1-40

Abstract: Background: Ultrasound is a common diagnostic modality in obstetrics to evaluate the fetal condition, frequently used in pregnant women classifying as high-risk. Modifications to guidelines, implementation of national initiatives, combined with an aging obstetric population has led to an increased number of high-risk patients. This places a substantial strain on outpatient obstetric services to accommodate the increased demand for serial antenatal ultrasound scans. Methods and findings: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Database of Clinical Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science, and PubMed databases from inception to December 2025. Primary research studies evaluating the feasibility, diagnostic accuracy, clinical utility, educational utility, acceptability, and economic viability of antenatal teleultrasound usage were included. Random effects meta-analysis was used, and results were reported as pooled proportions or risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Diagnostic accuracy was further assessed using a hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic model. Conclusion: This review demonstrated the potential applicability and value of obstetric teleultrasound. This novel care model is everchanging and new devices/systems capable of telesonography are of clinical and scientific relevance. Presently, additional high-quality evidence is required, particularly using teleultrasound in a clinical context, whilst ensuring sufficient methodological detail and consistent outcome reporting. Why was this study done?: What did the researchers do and find?: What do these findings mean?: Given recent advancements in digital technology, Jack Le Vance and colleagues assess whether teleultrasound is feasible, acceptable, diagnostically accurate and cost effective for antenatal care.

Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pmed00:1004922

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004922

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