Sonographic diagnosis of cervical incompetence for prevention and management

Abstract

ABSTRACTCervical shortening, as seen by transvaginal sonography increased concentrations of maternal salivary estriol, inflammatory cytokines in amniotic fluid, and fetal fibronectin expression in cervicovaginal mucus are all detected weeks to months before a preterm birth, providing evidence that spontaneous preterm birth is the result of a long-term process, with varying clinical manifestations and dynamics and a dilated cervix as the common terminal pathway.Routine pelvic examination has not been shown to be predictive of preterm labor. The examination of the cervix by transvaginal sonography is more objective and has been shown to be superior to the digital examination in estimating the risk of premature birth. Thereby, the sonographic structure of the cervix (length, funneling) determines, more than any other clinical findings, the interval to the delivery.During normal pregnancy, the pregnant woman spends part of her time in an upright position. Therefore, we have established longitudinal sonographi...