Objective: To evaluate the effect of a first trimester ultrasound dating scan on the rate of induction of labour for prolonged pregnancy.
Design: Randomised controlled trial to include 400 women in each arm of the trial.
Setting: Participating general practices and a district general teaching hospital.
Population: Women attending their general practitioner in the first trimester to confirm pregnancy, in whom a first trimester ultrasound scan was not indicated.
Methods: Women randomised to the study group (scan group) underwent an ultrasound dating scan between 8 and 12 weeks, measuring crown-rump length. The estimated date of delivery (EDD) was changed if there was a discrepancy of more than 5 days from the gestation, calculated from the last menstrual period (LMP). For the remaining women (no-scan group), gestation was determined using the LMP.
Main outcome measures: The rate of induction of labour for prolonged pregnancy.
Results: Due to circumstances beyond the researchers' control, recruitment was abandoned when 463 women had been enrolled. The EDD was adjusted in 13 (5.7%) women in the scan group and in 2 (0.9%) in the no-scan group. There was no difference in the rate of induction for prolonged pregnancy between the scan (19 [8.2%]) and the no-scan (17 [7.4%]) groups (relative risk 1.10; 95% CI 0.59-2.07).
Conclusions: Acknowledging the reduced numbers recruited for study, it is concluded that there is no evidence that a first trimester ultrasound dating scan reduces the rate of induction of labour for prolonged pregnancy and may result in a more expensive healthcare strategy.