Abstract

GONZALEZ, Antonio et al. Associating measuring cervical length with preterm birth amongst hospitalized women diagnosed with threatened preterm labour. Rev Colomb Obstet Ginecol [online]. 2005, vol.56, n.2, pp.127-133. ISSN 0034-7434.

Objective: assessing the accuracy of measuring cervical length when predicting preterm birth amongst a population of hospitalised women diagnosed with threatened preterm labour (initial preterm labour), single pregnancy and intact foetal membranes. Method: a prospective cohort study was carried out of the obstetrics services of three institutions from Medellín between January and June 2004. The sample size was estimated with a 0.05 alpha, 80% power, 2.5% preterm birth incidence in the unexposed group and 6.0 relative risk. There were 76 patients in two groups (152 patients in all). The first group of 76 patients had a positive cervical length (less than 30 mm cervical length). The second group had a negative cervical length (cervical length of more than 30 mm). Results: 156 hospital charts were reviewed; 22 were excluded because they did not contain information regarding final gestation outcome. 53 out of the remaining 134 charts presented a positive cervical length (less than 30 mm) and 81 had negative cervical length (more than 30 mm). Bivariable analysis of the main final outcome (preterm birth) revealed that the only statistically significant outcomes were having a cervical length of less than 30 mm and vaginal infection (p < 0.05). The only statistically significant outcome (when using multivariable analysis) was having a cervical length of less than 30 mm (11.1 OR, 4.55-27.05 95% CI). Conclusions: cervical length of less than 30 mm was a risk predictor in the study population for preterm labour in patients diagnosed with initial preterm labour.

Keywords : premature labour; cervix; uterine ultrasonography.

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