Predictive factors of labour onset using ultrasonography

Abstract

We analysed the effectiveness of transvaginal ultrasonographic and foetal/maternal pulse Doppler findings as predictors of labour onset within 1 week. We included 22 single normal pregnancies and evaluated the one-point and short- and long-term differences in uterine artery pulsatility index (PI), umbilical artery PI, middle cerebral artery PI (MCA-PI), peak systolic velocity, and cervical length (CL). Presence of funnelling and membrane separation over the internal cervical os was evaluated. Significant changes were observed in the one-point measurement of and short-term and long-term differences in CL, the one-point measurement of and long-term difference in MCA-PI, and the presence of membrane separation (Grade 2). In multivariate analysis, the significant predictors were short-term differences in CL (odds ratio [OR]: 5.27), long-term differences in MCA-PI (OR: 13.3), and presence of membrane separation (Grade 2) (OR: 5.38). Transvaginal ultrasonographic and foetal pulse Doppler findings were effective predictors of labour onset within 1 week.

Impact statement

• What is already known on this subject? Parameters reported to predict labour onset include the Bishop score, cervical length, decreased long-term cervical length, funnelling of the internal cervical os, and adrenal gland volume.

• What do the results of this study add? Short-term changes in cervical length, long-term changes in middle cerebral artery pulsatility index, and the presence of membrane separation Grade 2 were found to be useful predictive factors of labour onset in this study.

• What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The prediction of labour onset enables clinicians to properly manage pregnancy and delivery considering maternal and foetal conditions.

Keywords:

• Pulse Doppler
• membrane separation
• predictive factor
• labour onset
• ultrasonography

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Editage (www.editage.com) for English language editing.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The datasets during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.