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Observational Study
. 2015 Oct 24:15:273.
doi: 10.1186/s12884-015-0704-z.

Agreement between transperineal ultrasound measurements and digital examinations of cervical dilatation during labor

Sigurlaug Benediktsdottir  1 , Torbjørn M Eggebø  2   3 , Kjell Å Salvesen  4   5
Affiliations
Observational Study

Agreement between transperineal ultrasound measurements and digital examinations of cervical dilatation during labor

Sigurlaug Benediktsdottir et al. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. .

Abstract

Background: To compare 2D transperineal ultrasound assessment of cervical dilatation with vaginal examination and to investigate intra-observer variability of the ultrasound method.

Methods: A prospective observational study was performed at Skane University Hospital, Lund, Sweden between October 2013 and June 2014. Women with one fetus in cephalic presentation at term had the cervical dilatation assessed with ultrasound and digital vaginal examinations during labor. Inter-method agreement between ultrasound and digital examinations and intra-observer repeatability of ultrasound examinations were tested.

Results: Cervical dilatation was successfully assessed with ultrasound in 61/86 (71 %) women. The mean difference between cervical dilatation and ultrasound measurement was 0.9 cm (95 % CI 0.47-1.34). Interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.83 (95 % CI 0.72-0.90). Intra-observer repeatability was analysed in 26 women. The intra-observer ICC was 0.99 (95 % CI 0.97-0.99). The repeatability coefficient was ± 0.68 (95 % CI 0.45-0.91).

Conclusion: The mean ultrasound measurement of cervical dilatation was approximately 1 cm less than clinical assessment. The intra-observer repeatability of ultrasound measurements was high.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Transperineal (2D) ultrasound measurement of cervical dilatation at (a) 4,3 cm and (b) 7,0 cm
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Flow-chart illustrating the study population
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Bland-Altman plot of intermethod agreement between digital examinations and ultrasound measurements of cervical dilatation. Mean difference and limits of agreement
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Scatter plot illustrating the association between ultrasound measurements and digital examinations of cervical dilatation
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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