STUDY OF SECOND TRIMESTER CERVICAL LENGTH AS A PREDICTOR OF PRETERM LABOUR-A PROSPECTIVE STUDY IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Introduction:- Cervical dysfunction either due to disruption of intact cervical epithelial barrier or mechanical incompetence of the cervix has been associated as one of the risk factors for preterm premature rupture of membranes and preterm birth. Our aim was to study second trimester cervical length as a predictor of preterm labour in our population. Methodology:-This hospital based prospective study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital over a period of one and a half year (2019-2021). The relationship of cervical length between the 16th and 24th week of pregnancy and preterm delivery was evaluated for the 82 women after inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data was analyzed using SPSSversion 11.0. Results:- The mean age of study patients was 29.3±2.52 years, with 52.4% (most common) being in the age group of 28-31 years. 26.8% patients had a cervical length of ≤2.5 cm while 73.2% had cervical length of >2.5 cm at the time of examination. 45.1% women delivered at <37 weeks of gestation while 54.9% delivered at term. Most of the patients i.e., 64.6% delivered by normal vaginal delivery and 35.4% delivering by Cesarean section. 72.7% patients with short cervical length delivered at <37 weeks while only 35% of those with normal cervical lengths delivered at <37 weeks. This difference was statistically signicant (p<0.0002). Conclusion:- We concluded that a short cervical length of< 2.5 is a risk factor for development of spontaneous preterm labour and that ≤ 2.5mm is an optimum threshold for it.