Sonar in the Puerperium

Sonar was employed as a diagnostic aid in 112 patients who had bleeding in the postnatal period. A significant quantity of intrauterine tissue was detected in 29 patients and clinical confirmation obtained in all 25 who were subsequently taken to theatre. Eleven of the 83 patients in whom sonar showed an ‘empty’ uterus also had an evacuation performed, and the sonar findings were confirmed in ten. It is concluded that sonar provides reliable information on the presence or absence of retained intrauterine tissue, and that using this technique the number of unnecessary operations could be reduced.