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ISSN-0303-5212 |
| The
Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association Rawalpindi - Islamabad |
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Volume 34, Number 2, July - Dec. 2009 |  |
| Original article |
| Prediction of preterm labor by ultrasonographic cervical length |
| Mitri Rashed, Mohammed Rawashdeh, Kareema Be-Kaen |
| Objective To determine whether transvaginal ultrasound assessment of the cervix is superior to trans abdominal ultrasonography in evaluating the cervical canal in the second trimester and to see which one is more accurate in predicting preterm labor. Method The study entailed 294 women with singleton pregnancy, who attended our antenatal clinic for routine care. Each woman underwent a transabdominal and endovaginal ultrasono-graphic cervical length measurement at 20-24 weeks. Women with risk factors for preterm deliveries like history of preterm delivery, cervical incompetence, uterine abnormalities, and previous cervical surgery were excluded. Maternal and fetal data were collected. Statistical comparison was made between the two ultrasonographic methods for gestational age at birth and parity. Results 10.8 % of the women delivered prematurely. Transvaginal ultrasonographic cervical length measurements of term and preterm deliveries showed a statistically significant difference (P<0.05) but no significant difference was found in transabdominal measurements (P>0.05). Although transvaginal cervical length measurements showed a statistically significant difference between primiparous and multiparous women (P< 0.05), the difference was not significant by transabdominal route (P>0.05). Conclusions Transvaginal ultrasonography seems to be superior to transabdominal sonography in assessing the cervical length in the second trimester and for screening for spontaneous preterm delivery. (Rawal Med J 2009;34:191-194). |
| Key Words: Cervical length, transvaginal sonography, transabdominal sonography. |
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