OC09.05: Volume and three‐dimensional power Doppler cervical parameters in threatened preterm labour and short cervix pregnancies

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare volume and VOCAL cervical parameters obtained with trans-vaginal ultrasound between threatened preterm labour and short asymptomatic cervix pregnancies without treatment and delivering at term. Methods: Cervical volume, vascularisation index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularisation flow index (VFI) were measured with a transvaginal ultrasound. One group were patients from 24 weeks to 34 weeks of gestation with diagnosis of threatened preterm birth. The other group were patients within the same gestational age with short asymptomatic cervix. Patients with premature rupture of membranes, fetal pathology and multiple gestations were excluded. Results: A total of 70 threatened preterm labour patients and 34 short cervix pregnancies were included. Both groups were homogeneous (P > 0.05) for gestational age at measurement (mean 30.6 vs. 31.1 gestational weeks), cervical length (mean 19.0 vs. 19.6 mm) and parity (35% parous in threatened preterm labour VS 45% in controls). Threatened preterm labour cases presented significantly lower cervical volume (13 vs. 18 cm3) and FI (30.2 vs. 33.4) than controls (P < 0.05) besides significantly higher values (P < 0.05) were found in VI (16.0 vs. 5.5) and VFI (4.8 VS 1.8). Conclusions: Assessment of cervical volume and VOCAL parameters show differences between threatened preterm labour and asymptomatic short cervix pregnancies. Further research is needed to assess their usefulness in the surveillance of short cervix pregnancies and applicability to clinical practice.