Role of trans-vaginal ultrasonography in the prediction of preterm labor

الملخص EN

Aim : To evaluate the role of the transvaginal ultrasound in assessment of cervical length and the presence of funneling as reliable method to predict preterm labor. Patients and methods : Fifty pregnant women between 23- 33 weeks of gestation who visited ante-natal clinic or admitted in Tanta university hospital with at least prior one spontaneous mid trimestric loss or prior one preterm labor were controlled in this study after informed consent.

These women were subjected to Transvaginal sonography to measure cervical length and detected funneling of internal os.

Then they were followed up to determine gestational age at delivery. Results : During the current study fifty pregnant women between 23- 33 weeks of gestation were subjected to transvaginal sonography to measure cervical length and detected funneling of internal os as reliable method to predict preterm labor.

From 14 cases with cervical funneling, 13 cases delivered preterm and 1 case delivered at full term .

Thirty patients displayed cervical length less than 3.1 cm were delivered preterm. Conclusion : Estimation of cervical length and funneling of internal os by transvaginal ultrasonography is sensitive method which can predict occurrence of preterm labor