title: The effect of polyhydramnios on cervical length in twins: a controlled intervention study in complicated monochorionic pregnancies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that cervical shortening in polyhydramnios reflects the degree of excess amniotic fluid, and increases with normalisation of amniotic fluid volume.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study of 40 women with monochorionic twins undergoing interventional procedures between 16-26 weeks. Cervical length was assessed via transvaginal sonography pre-procedure, 1 and 24 hours post-procedure, and results compared between amnioreduction and control procedures. Amniotic fluid index (AFI) was measured pre- and post-procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pre-procedural cervical length correlated with AFI (linear fit = 5.07 -0.04x, R(2) = 0.17, P = 0.03) in patients with polyhydramnios (n = 28). Drainage of 2000 ml fluid (range 700-3500 ml), reduced AFI from 42 cm to 21 cm (P<0.001). Their pre-procedural cervical length did not change at one (mean Delta:-0.1cm, 95%CI, -0.4 to 0.2) or 24 hours (0.2 cm, -0.1 to 0.6) after amnioreduction. There was no change in cervical length at control procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cervical shortening in twins with polyhydramnios does not appear to be an acute process; cervical length can be measured before or after therapeutic procedures.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Fetal Care, Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, London, UK. nejengineer@aol.com
authors.forename: Neelam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Engineer
authors.forename: Keelin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Donoghue
authors.forename: Ruwan C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Wimalasundera
authors.forename: Nicholas M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Fisk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006831:Polyhydramnios / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000378:metabolism; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal