Document Detail


The validity of cervical dilation as an indication of true labor between 32 and 36 weeks 6 days of gestation.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  17904991     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: Cervical dilation with regular contraction traditionally has been used to differentiate between true and false labor. This diagnostic criterion has not been tested as most patients receive tocolytics. Our objective was to determine the time from admission to delivery in women with preterm contractions and advanced cervical dilation without tocolytics. STUDY DESIGN: We reviewed the records of patients with preterm labor on the basis of regular contractions and cervical dilation > or = 3 cm between 32 and 36 weeks 6 days of gestation. Chi-square analysis was performed for delivery at > 1 week. RESULTS: In the records, 68.8% of the patients remained pregnant at > 1 week without tocolysis. Between 32 and 34 weeks of gestation, the use of tocolysis did not help to prolong pregnancy > 1 week (81% vs 88%; alpha = .05; power = 0.65). CONCLUSION: Cervical dilation with preterm contraction cannot be used as an indication of true labor. More accurate methods to diagnose true preterm labor and direct management decisions are needed.
Authors:
Sangeeta Jain; Angela Earhart; Nicole Ruddock; Tony Wen; Gary D V Hankins; George R Saade
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  American journal of obstetrics and gynecology     Volume:  197     ISSN:  1097-6868     ISO Abbreviation:  Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol.     Publication Date:  2007 Oct 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2007-10-01     Completed Date:  2007-11-09     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0370476     Medline TA:  Am J Obstet Gynecol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  431.e1-3     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. sajain@utmb.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
Delivery, Obstetric
Female
Humans
Labor Stage, First / physiology*
Obstetric Labor, Premature / diagnosis*
Pregnancy
Retrospective Studies
Statistics, Nonparametric
Tocolysis / methods
Tocolytic Agents / pharmacology
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Tocolytic Agents

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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