The Value of Transvaginal Ultrasonographic Measurement of Cervical Length for Prediction of Preterm Delivery in Patients with Preterm Labor.
- Author:
Su Ran CHOI
1
;
Soon Ha YANG
;
Ji Soo LEE
;
Yong Soo SEO
;
Jong Hwa KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Transvaginal ultrasonography;
Cervical length;
Preterm delivery;
Preterm labor
- MeSH:
Female;
Gestational Age;
Humans;
Logistic Models;
Membranes;
Obstetric Labor, Premature*;
Pregnancy;
Retrospective Studies;
ROC Curve;
Sensitivity and Specificity;
Ultrasonography
- From:Korean Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
2003;46(11):2197-2202
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the value of vaginal ultrasonographic cervical length in prediction of preterm delivery in patients with preterm labor. METHODS: One-hundred twenty-nine women in preterm labor at 24-34 weeks of gestation were studied retrospectively. Transvaginal ultrasonography for measurement of cervical length was performed at the time of admission. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, partial correlation coefficient, and multiple logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The mean gestational age at admission was 30.2 +/- 2.5 weeks and the mean gestational age at delivery was 35.7 +/- 3.9 weeks. The median admission-to-delivery interval was 864 hours (24-2616). ROC curve analysis showed a significant relationship between cervical length and preterm delivery (area under the curve=0.82, p<0.001). The diagnostic indices of cervical length (cut-off value 2.5 cm) by ROC curve were sensitivity of 86%, specificity of 64%, and positive and negative predictive value of 54% and 90%. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that cervical length was an independent predictor of preterm delivery after adjustment of confounding factors (x2=0.326, p<0.01). Admission-to-delivery interval in patients with cervical length >or=2.5 cm was significantly shorter than that in patients with cervical length >2.5 cm. CONCLUSION: Transvaginal ultrasonographic measurement of cervical length is a useful predictor of preterm delivery in patients with preterm labor and intact membranes.