Ms Debra Paoletti
Photo of Debra Paoletti PhD candidate
PhD Scholar
MAppSc (Sonography), RMIT (2010)
email debra.paoletti@anu.edu.au

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About

Debra Paoletti is a senior sonographer specialising in obstetric ultrasound at the Canberra Hospital.

Prior to specialising in obstetric ultrasound, Debra had extensive experience in general and vascular ultrasound in both public and private clinical settings. Debra has several publications on obstetric ultrasound prior to commencing her PhD and was awarded the ASUM Australasian Sonographer of the Year in 2014 and ASA ACT Sonographer of the Year 2013.

Debra is passionate about ultrasound education and standards of practice, and has presented workshops at national conferences. She is also a member of ASUM’s board of directors and ASUM’s Diploma of Medical Ultrasonography (DMU) Board of Examiners.

Member of:

  • Australian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine (ASUM)
  • Australasian Sonographers Association (ASA)
  • International Society for Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology ISUOG)

Affiliations

Research interests

PhD Topic: Fetal Growth Measurement

Fetal biometry is an established part of ultrasound assessment in determining fetal growth. However, which fetal measurement reference charts to use has been a contentious issue in Australian ultrasound practices for the past two decades. There are currently at least eight fetal growth charts in clinical use in Australia; the potential for misdiagnosis of growth restriction and additional interventions cannot be underestimated. The aim of this research is to provide evidence to allow adoption of a consistent way to measure and report fetal growth, and define end points for dysfunctional growth that lead to clinical intervention. There are three parts to this research:

  1. A survey to investigate reasons why ultrasound providers have chosen to use particular reference charts and to what extent appropriate evaluation of methodology, recommendations/guidelines and conceptual or philosophical reasons have influenced this decision.
  2. A prospective, multi-centre, cross-sectional study to assess fetal biometry in a low risk population, to define whether the recently published IG21 charts accurately reflect fetal biometry and growth in Australia
  3. A prospective, longitudinal study to assess fetal biometry and Doppler parameters in a low risk population in the third trimester to determine whether growth rate or a change in Doppler indices is a better predictor of fetal growth restriction.

Teaching information

Weekly tutorials on Obstetric and Gynaecological Ultrasound at Canberra Hospital for Radiology Registrars.

Guest lecturer ANU Medical School.

Location

Florey Building, 54 Mills Road, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 2601

Publications

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1748-2344

  • Mizia K, Westerway Susan, Robertson M, Parry E, Paoletti D, Perry D, Ramkrishna J, Macpherson L, Condous G (2018). Guidelines for the performance of the first trimester ultrasound. Australasian Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine. 21. 10.1002/ajum.12102.
  • Orefice R, Paoletti D, & Robertson M (2018). A novel case of congenital fetal heart block in a mother with Addison's disease: Addison's disease congenital fetal heart block. Sonography. 5. 10.1002/sono.12154.
  • Knight P, Robertson M, Paoletti D (2016). Uterine cavernous haemangioma in pregnancy. Australasian Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine. 19. 37-41. 10.1002/ajum.12003.
  • Vress D, Robertson M, & Paoletti D (2015). Fetal urinoma: A case report and review of the literature. Australasian Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine. 18. 38-40. 10.1002/j.2205-0140.2015.tb00023.x.
  • Paoletti D & Robertson M (2014). Congenital high airways obstruction syndrome - first and second trimester diagnosis. Australasian Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine. 17. 82-84. 10.1002/j.2205-0140.2014.tb00111.x.
  • Paoletti D, Robertson M & Sia S (2014). A sonographic approach to prenatal classification of congenital spine anomalies. Australasian Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine. 17. 20-37. 10.1002/j.2205-0140.2014.tb00081.x.
  • Paoletti D & Robertson M (2012). Prenatal diagnosis of a left ventricular diverticulum. Australasian Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine. 15. 112-114. 10.1002/j.2205-0140.2012.tb00016.x.
  • Paoletti D & Robertson M (2012). Spontaneous hemopertitoneum - a matter of life and death. Australasian Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine. 15. 109-111. 10.1002/j.2205-0140.2012.tb00015.x.
  • Saha S, Paoletti D & Robertson Meiri (2012). Persistent left superior vena cava - considerations in fetal, pediatric and adult populations. Australasian Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine. 15. 61-66. 10.1002/j.2205-0140.2012.tb00228.x.
  • Paoletti, Debra. (2011). A heterotopic pregnancy involving a caesarean section scar. Australasian Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine. 14. 34-35. 10.1002/j.2205-0140.2011.tb00122.x.