Role of Cervical Length as Predictor of Preterm Labor and a Comparison of Transabdominal versus Transvaginal Ultrasound in Determining the Accuracy of Cervical Length

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objectives 1. To evaluate the mean cervical length at 22 to 28 weeks of gestation by TAS and TVS and correlate its association with preterm labor. 2. To compare the difference in cervical length measured by the above two methods. Methods This was a prospective trial involving 100 pregnant women spanning a period of ten months. Results Eighteen women out of the 100 studied had preterm labor; of which 17 had a cervical length of less than 3 mm at 22 to 28 weeks. The percentage of women with preterm delivery with a short cervix was 83% by transabdominal scan (TAS) and 94% with transvaginal scan (TVS). Conclusion The mean cervical length was lesser amongst women who had a preterm delivery as compared to those with a term delivery. The mean cervical length by TAS was more than that by TVS thereby suggesting that TVS has a higher sensitivity for detection of preterm labor than TAS.