Intrapartum sonography versus digital vaginal examination in the first stage of labor for prediction of the progress of labor

Abstract

Background: The research and advances in obstetrics are performed to overcome abnormal vaginal deliveries. The obstetrician’s skill using digital vaginal examination (DVE) remains a personal skill with limitations.
Objective: Assessment of the ability of intrapartum ultrasound capability to observe the progression of normal labor in the first stage compared to DVE accurately and objectively.
Patients and methods: This prospective cohort study, was conducted on 62 singleton pregnancies in their 38-40 weeks of pregnancy at Obstetrics and Gynecology ultrasound unit and Maternity Hospital, during a period between 2018 to 2020. All cases received clinical examination including, general, abdominal, and obstetrical examination and ultrasonography examination including, transvaginal, transabdominal, and transperineal.
Result: The transvaginal ultrasound evaluated the rate of cervical dilatation at the first stage of labor and the length of the cervix showed a statistically significant negative correlation and statistically significant positive correlation between time of labor progress at first and cervical length. There was statistically significantly higher mean cervical dilatation by DVE than US findings (4.58 & 4.29, respectively).
Conclusion: Ultrasound usage possesses a potential role in predicting vaginal delivery success and helping the promotion of safe operative delivery.