Ultrasound assessment of cervical length in threatened preterm labor

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Targeted therapy for threatened preterm labor based on sonographic measurement of the cervical length: a randomized controlled trial

“…We found that 99% of women with a cervical length of ≥ 15 mm did not deliver within 7 days, regardless of the use of tocolytics 6 . Based on these findings we conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the hypothesis that in women presenting with threatened preterm labor the decision to administer tocolytics and steroids should be based on the sonographic measurement of cervical length.…”

“…Our observational data 6 indicated that, in the control group, at least 90% of eligible women would still be pregnant 7 days after the administration of antenatal corticosteroid therapy. We hypothesized that ultrasound-aided management of preterm labor would reduce by 50% the number of women still pregnant 1 week after corticosteroid treatment.…”

Diagnosis and Management of Short Cervix in Singleton Pregnancies

“…14 17 Owen et al 18 showed that cervical length of less than 25 mm is predictive of PTD before 35 weeks' gestation in a group of women with singleton pregnancy and prior PTD (RR 3.3, 95% CI 2.1-5.0). Tsoi et al 19 examined 216 women at 24 to 36 weeks' gestation with a singleton pregnancy and painful contractions. After excluding women in active labor or ruptured membranes, over one-third (37%) of the study women whose cervix was less than 15 mm long delivered within 7 days regardless of therapy.…”

Screening for Preterm Labor

“…Crane et al, 25 evaluated singleton and twin pregnancies with preterm contractions and found that transvaginal sonographic measurement of the cervix was a good predictor of preterm delivery and it had a better predictive value in singletons than in twins. Tsoi et al, 26 examined 216 symptomatic women with singleton pregnancies and observed that a cervical length measured by transvaginal ultrasound of less than 15 mm could distinguish those at risk of delivery within seven days. Tekesin et al, 27 evaluated 68 patients with threatened preterm labor and observed that the risk of preterm delivery increased in patients with a cervical length of less than 25 mm.…”