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Correlation between visual examination of the cervix and digital examination
Leonardo Pereira1, Rebecca Gould, Jacquelyn Pelham
1Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239-3098, USA. pereiral@ohsu.edu
Summary
Visual cervical assessment closely aligns with digital examination findings. This correlation is significant even in preterm patients, aiding clinical decision-making during labor and delivery.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Background:
- Accurate cervical assessment is crucial for managing labor and delivery.
- Digital examination is the standard, but visual assessment offers a complementary approach.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the correlation between visual and digital cervical assessments.
- To determine if this correlation holds in preterm pregnancies.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study including 107 patients at Labor and Delivery.
- Exclusion of preterm premature ruptured membranes and placenta previa.
- Spearman rank correlation coefficient used to measure agreement between visual and digital assessments of dilation, effacement, position, and station.
Main Results:
- Strong correlations found between visual and digital assessments for all parameters (Spearman's rho 0.618-0.686, p<0.001).
- Significant correlations persisted in a subgroup of 50 preterm patients (<34 weeks) with intact membranes (p<0.02).
Conclusions:
- Visual cervical assessment demonstrates significant correlation with digital examination.
- This correlation is maintained in preterm patients, supporting its clinical utility.