The British journal of radiology
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The study was designed to investigate the effect of patient position on the detection of ureteral jets in normal pregnancy. The number of jets was recorded for 1 min using colour Doppler ultrasound in 26 healthy asymptomatic gravid women between 16 weeks and 34 weeks gestation. Each patient was examined in the supine position and in both the right and left lateral decubitus positions. ⋯ However, the difference in the detection rate was significant on only the right side (p=0.016 for the right; p=0.063 for the left). 10 (77%) of 13 patients in whom unilateral absence of ureteral jets was noted had detectable jets in the lateral decubitus position. Our findings demonstrated the utility of the lateral decubitus position in the evaluation of ureters suspicious for obstruction. However, caution is still recommended in diagnosing ureteral obstruction if jets are persistently absent after this manoeuvre.