ABSTRACT

Objective:

In our study we examined the predictive value of the cervical lenght and internal os dilatation (funneling) measurements among singleton pregnant women who are in between 18 and 24th gestational weeks according to the distribution of these lengths in above mentioned gestational weeks.

Materials and Methods:

300 singleton pregnant women with no cerclage who applied to Bak›rköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Research and Training Hospital between 01.01.2003 and 31.10.2004 for antenatal assessment were included in this study. After fetal measurements, measurements of cervical lengths and, if present, the measurements of internal cervical os dilatation by width and length were taken. The same measurements were repeated in 28th, 30th and 36th gestational weeks. The statistical analysis of the data were made by SPSS 9.00, INSTAT and Epi info 2000.

Results:

The average values of cervical lengths in the group that had preterm labor (n=107) in 18th, 20th, 22nd and 24th weeks were 28.85 mm, 28.38 mm, 27.33 mm and 26.27 mm, respectively. In the group that had term labor (n=193) these values were 38.05 mm, 37.37 mm, 36.43 mm, and 33.69 mm. The average values of cervical length with fundal pressure in the preterm group were 27.92 mm, 27.60 mm, 26.34 mm, and 25.35 mm, whereas in the term group these values were 37.76 mm, 37.16 mm, 36.00 mm, and 33.48 mm, respectively.

Conclusion:

We conclude when we take 30 mm as the threshold value, the measurement of the cervical length and internal os dilatation is a very valuable diagnostic method for the prediction of preterm labor.