“Routine Partographic Assessment of Progress of Labour & Pregnancy Outcome”

Abstract

Background: Partograph is a simple, of low cost but most important tool for record of progress of labour In the developing country like ours, where both pregnancy and maternal mortality rate is so high, the use of this inexpensive partograph is essential. Objective: To assess the importance of partographic control of labour in preventing prolongs labour and its consequences, thereby decreasing maternal morbidity and mortality and improvement of neonatal outcome. Method: This study was done in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department of Institute of Child and Mother Health, Matuail, Dhaka. Total 196 patients were included in this study. Data were collected by predesigned data collection sheet. Data were analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 14. Result: 74% of these patients had spontaneous vaginal delivery, 7.14% required assisted delivery (forceps or ventouse) and 18.9% needed caesarean section. Caesarean section was done in 18.9% patients because of fetal distress (32.4%) and prolonged labour (67.6%) due to malrotation and cephalopelvic disproportion. Patients with non-engaged head in labour required more intervention than who had engaged head. With the use of partograph, unnecessary interventions were reduced. It was found that 66.7% of the patients were delivered within 7 hours and all patients were delivered within 10 hours from active phase of labour. Thus prolonged labour and its consequences, such as obstructed labour and ruptured uterus, can be avoided by using partograph. In 100% of the patients, crossing the action line in partograph required interference, but 92.5% within alert line of partograph delivered vaginally spontaneously and 7.5% required assisted delivery (forceps or ventouse). When IDR was 1 cm/hr 85.1% women delivered spontaneously. When IDR was <0.4 cm/hr, 100% of patients required some kind of interference. Thus, the maintenance of partograph in labour enables the obstetricians to recognize very early dystocic labour and act accordingly. Conclusion: With the help of a partogram, time of delivery can be estimated and if the progress is slow, an appropriate interference at the right time can be instituted before the labour becomes dangerously protracted. IDR very helpful in making early decisions about the prognosis for the type of labour. With the use of partogram and its scientific application, the result showed that operative interventions were reduced, duration of labour was within normal limit and there was no obstructed labour and no maternal or perinatal mortality.

Predictive Value of Cervical Dilatation at Initial Presentation in Labor and Subsequent Intervention

“…100% of pregnancies ended in vaginal births, either naturally or with some help, when the lDR was 1 cm/hr or above. With an IDR of 1 cm/hour or more, 96% of primiparas spontaneously gave birth, whereas 60.5% needed assistance or a caesarean section with an IDR of less than 1 cm/hour [4] .…”

“…An established instrument for monitoring labor progress is a partogram. A partogram's usage is linked to better treatment quality and labor outcomes, according to a number of studies [2][3][4] .…”