OBJECTIVES: To assess the predictive performance of cervical length measurement at presentation and 24h later in women with symptoms of preterm labour. STUDY DESIGN: Cervical length was measured transvaginally at presentation and 24 hours later in 122 women presenting with threatened preterm labour between 23 and 33+6 gestational weeks. RESULTS: Six women delivered within 1 week of presentation. The sensitivity and specificity of a cervical length <15 mm at admission for delivery within one week was 83.3 and 95.8%, respectively. A reduction of >20% in cervical length 24h after admission predicted 50% of preterm deliveries within 1 week, with a specificity of 92.7%; in combination with cervical length at presentation it did not improve the prediction. The same was observed for birth before 32 weeks (N=9) and birth before 35 weeks (N=15). CONCLUSIONS: Women with threatened preterm labour and a cervical length of <15 mm at presentation are at high risk of delivering preterm. Cervical change in the following 24 hours does not seem to improve the prediction.
OBJECTIVES: To assess the predictive performance of cervical length measurement at presentation and 24h later in women with symptoms of preterm labour. STUDY DESIGN: Cervical length was measured transvaginally at presentation and 24 hours later in 122 women presenting with threatened preterm labour between 23 and 33+6 gestational weeks. RESULTS: Six women delivered within 1 week of presentation. The sensitivity and specificity of a cervical length <15 mm at admission for delivery within one week was 83.3 and 95.8%, respectively. A reduction of >20% in cervical length 24h after admission predicted 50% of preterm deliveries within 1 week, with a specificity of 92.7%; in combination with cervical length at presentation it did not improve the prediction. The same was observed for birth before 32 weeks (N=9) and birth before 35 weeks (N=15). CONCLUSIONS:Women with threatened preterm labour and a cervical length of <15 mm at presentation are at high risk of delivering preterm. Cervical change in the following 24 hours does not seem to improve the prediction.
Authors: P Wagner; J Sonek; M Heidemeyer; M Schmid; H Abele; M Hoopmann; K O Kagan Journal: Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd Date: 2016-07 Impact factor: 2.915