European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

CERVICAL LENGTH ASSESSMENT BY TRANSVAGINAL SONOGRAPHY AT 22-24 WEEKS OF GESTATION AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH PRETERM DELIVERY AMONG LOW RISK ASYMPTOMATIC PREGNANT WOMEN

Dr. Shikha Khandelwal* and Dr. Kaveri S. B

ABSTRACT

Preterm birth, defined as delivery before 37 weeks of pregnancy, continues to be leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. The frequency of preterm delivery in live birth ranges from 5%-15% and it is responsible for approximately 80% of neonatal mortality. The present study was done to study association between cervical lengths (at 22-24 weeks of gestational age) measured by transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) and risk of preterm delivery among low risk asymptomatic pregnant women. Cervical assessment by TVUS was done in 200 low risk asymptomatic women 22-24 weeks of gestational age. Length of cervix and status of internal os were recorded. These parameters were correlated with period of gestational age. Gestation at delivery in women with cervical length <3 cm (group A, n=45) were compared to women with cervical length ≥ 3 cm (group B, n=155). Statistical analysis was done by Chi-square test. Mean cervical length in present study was 33.04 ± 6.73 mm with no significant difference between primigravida and multigravida. There was definitive positive correlation between cervical length at 22-24 weeks and gestational age at delivery (r-value= 0.051). Average gestation age at delivery in group A was 33.06 ± 4.58 weeks as compared to 38.60 ± 1.16 weeks in group B (p<0.005). Transvaginal ultrasonic examination of cervix is a simple, sensitive method of assessing risk of preterm delivery.

Keywords: Transvaginal ultrasound, Preterm birth, Cervical length, Gestational age