The effect of polyhydramnios on cervical length in twins: a controlled intervention study in complicated monochorionic pregnancies.
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.
Engineer
Neelam
N
Centre for Fetal Care, Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, London, UK. nejengineer@aol.com
O'Donoghue
Keelin
K
Wimalasundera
Ruwan C
RC
Fisk
Nicholas M
NM
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