Pre-induction cervical assessment using transvaginal ultrasound versus Bishops cervical scoring as predictors of successful induction of labour in term pregnancies: A hospital-based comparative clinical trial

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the association between transvaginal ultrasound scan of cervix and Bishop’s score in predicting successful induction of labour, cut-off points and patients’ tolerability and acceptance for both procedures. Design A comparative clinical trial. Setting A tertiary hospital in Selangor, Malaysia. Participants 294 women planned for elective induction of labour for various indications were included. All women had transvaginal ultrasound to assess the cervical length and digital vaginal examination to assess the Bishop cervical scoring by separate investigators before induction of labour. Primary outcome measure To evaluate the association of the cervical length by transvaginal ultrasound scan and Bishop score in predicting successful induction of labour. Secondary outcome measure Variables associated with successful induction of labour and patients’ tolerability and acceptance for transvaginal ultrasound scan of cervix. Results There was no statistically significant difference among the vaginal and Caesarean delivery groups in terms of mean maternal age, height, weight, body mass index, ethnicity and gestational age at induction. Vaginal delivery occurred in 207 women (70.4%) and 87 women (29.6%) delivered via Caesarean section. There was a high degree of correlation between the cervical length and Bishop score (r-value 0.745; p Conclusion Sonographic assessment of cervical measurement predicts the success of induction of labour with similar diagnostic accuracy with conventional Bishop score.