Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Objective: The aim of our study is to evaluate the role of ultrasonographic measurement of myometrial thickness, cervical length, presence of funneling and cervical position in prediction of preterm labor.study design: Our prospective observational study included a sample of 100 pregnant women divided into 2 groups, group A (50 high risk pregnant women who had previous preterm labor) and group B (50 low risk pregnant women). The myometrium thickness was measured by tansabdominal ultrasound at 4 different sites low anterior, mid anterior, fundal and posterior.Transvaginal ultrasound was performed to assess cervical length, presence of funneling and cervical position. The ultrasound examination was repeated every four weeks until 36 weeks gestational age, results: The incidence of preterm labor was 14%.The cervical length measured at 25-28 weeks in high risk group and 29-32 weeks of gestation in low risk group were significantly shorter in women who had spontaneous preterm birth in comparison to those who delivered at full term.The cervical funneling was significant in women who had spontaneous preterm birth between 25-28 weeks. The incidence of preterm birth was significantly higher in women with vertical position. there are no significant differences in myometrial thickness in different sites across pregnancy between low and high risk groups

Issued also as CD