Value of transvaginal ultrasound in preterm delivery

Abstract

Prematurity is one of the main causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality and is responsible for a high percentage of infant sequelae, especially in very early gestation ages. Every year an estimated 15 million children are born preterm and this number continues to increase. Approximately 1 million children die each year as a result of the complications of preterm birth. We decide to perform a descriptive and retrospective study of patients admitted to Ángel Arturo Aballí Maternal-Infant Hospital, during the period from July to December 2015. 102 patients who were admitted in this center with symptoms of threatened preterm birth, single fetus and intact membranes. The birth and medical records of mothers and newborns were reviewed, as well the statistics department. For the processing and analysis, the SPSS statistical program was used and the results were expressed in numbers and percentages. Results showed that the average age of the mothers was between 20-25 years, the gestational age between 30-34 weeks, the most frequent cervical modification was the shortening of the cervix and most of the patients were managed to reach 37 weeks gestation. It was concluded that transvaginal ultrasound increases the sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of preterm delivery and also the shorter of the cervix increase the risk of preterm delivery.