Intrapartum Ultrasonography - Sonopartogram. Longitudinal Evaluation of the Mechanism of Active Labor Using Ultrasound Parameters

Objectives:

• Evaluation of the correlation between the sonographic parameter and clinical findings (e.g. digital examination) in any cephalic (not only occipital anterior)
• Examination of the relationship between various sonographic parameters
• Determination of intraobserver and interobserver variation in obtaining the sonographic measurements
• Analysis of the temporal variation of the different sonographic measurements in normal spontaneous vaginal delivery versus obstructed labor in fetuses with occiput anterior versus those with persistent occiput posterior
• Establishment of a sonopartogram that should replace in an objective way Friedmann
• Determination of cut-off values that may help clinicians to choose between vaginal operative delivery or caesarean section
• Investigation whether there is a psychological benefit to the patient in being able to follow on the ultrasound screen how fetal head descent and position are being assessed objectively.

Methods:

Unselected population Personal characteristics: GA, BMI, age, gesta, para Gestational age of more than 37 completed weeks dated by first- and/or mid-trimester scan.

Each patient provide informed consent before the ultrasound measurements. Transperineal ultrasound imaging and digital examinations in laboring patients with a singleton fetus in cephalic/pelvic presentation. Patients examined in their labor rooms.