Transvaginal sonographic assessment of the cervix and the risk of preterm labour

Abstract EN

Objecives : To determine cervical length shortening between 12 and 28 weeks gestation predicts risk of preterm labour or cervical funneling requiring cerclage Venue : Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, King Hussein Medical Center (KHMC), Jordan Method : This is retrospective study ; we reviewed all patients who had transvaginal cervical ultrasound assessment starting from 1st March 2004 to 31 of March 2005.

aِrround 46 patients who had a second trimester delivery or cerclage placement were chosen for the study.

The control group 70 patients without signs of preterm labour and cervical shortening as assessed by transvaginal sonography.

The results of the last ultrasound cervical length measurement were correlated with the likelihood of preterm delivery or cervical funneling requiring cerclage.

Results : Thirty tow of 116 patients delivered preterm and 17 required cerclage because of cervical shortening and funneling.

The mean cervical length assessed by ultrasound was 25.05 + / - 3 mm in the group with preterm delivery and 21.9 + / - 7.0 mm in the group of cervical incompetence.

In the normal pregnancy group, the mean cervical length was 35.0 + / - 3.07mm.

Conclusion : Cervical length of < 3.0 cm and further shortening of the cervix is predictive of preterm delivery or cervical incompetence requiring cerclage.