Intrapartum Translabial Ultrasonography Reliability
Intrapartum Translabial Ultrasonography Reliability
In a present study vaginal examination of the fetal head station is compared with
 transperineal ultrasonography evaluation of fetal head station and the ability of
 ultrasonography evaluation in predicting the time and mode of delivery will be investigated.
The sonographically measured head station, 'ITU station', was measured along the longest
 visible axis of the fetal head, between the intersections with the infra pubic line and the
 deepest bony part of the fetal head, subtracting 3 cm for the level of the ischial spines.
 This parameter is useful to determine the level of engagement of the fetal head and its
 progression throughout labor.

 The labor is divided into a latent phase (stage 0), an active phase (stage 1 and 2), and a
 third stage defined as the time period between the delivery of the baby and the delivery of
 the placenta. According to the classic definition, the onset of labor is when regular
 contractions have been established. The latent phase is characterized by painful contractions
 and cervical dilatation up to 5 cm in accordance with WHO.

 The fetal descent in the birth canal is assessed by vaginal digital examinations and related
 to the ischial spine. ACOG has defined five stations above (-5) and below (+5) the level of
 the spine (0 stations). Minus five corresponds to the pelvic inlet, zero to the level of the
 ischial spine, and plus four corresponds to the pelvic floor.

 Traditionally, labor progression has been assessed by digital examination of cervical
 dilatation and fetal descent. Recent studies, however, dispute these findings and found the
 clinical examination of fetal descent and position to be unprecise and subjective with a high
 interobserver variation. Dupuis et al. made an important contribution to this debate when he
 rigorously assessed the accuracy of station diagnosis with digital examinations. . This study
 provides evidence that digital assessment of fetal head station is unreliable.

 However, a study from 2019 found a good correlation between clinical assessments and
 ultrasound examinations when only one experienced clinician and one trained ultrasound
 examiner compared their results.

 In this study, we aim to evaluate the accuracy of and consistency between vaginal examination
 and transperineal ultrasound head station measurements.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  At or over 36 weeks pregnant women

 -  Pregnant women at the active phase of the first stage of labor

 -  Pregnant women at the second stage of labor

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Breech presentation

 -  Fetal anomaly

 -  In utero ex fetus cases

 -  Trial of labor after cesarean cases

 -  Pregnant women at the latent phase of the first sage of labor