title: [Mechanical and electrical uterine activity. Part II. Contractions parameters].
abstract: Frequency and strength of the uterine contractions monitoring enables to control the labour progress and also, although in a restricted way, to determine the beginning of labour, as long as it is not preterm. Mechanical approach provides only the low frequency signal, which describes the contractions more or less accurately, depending on whether an intrauterine pressure measurement is used in the former case or whether an external stress measurement is applied in the latter case. This signal does not comprise information on contractions characteristics and enables only to estimate their basic timing parameters. Description of the electrophysiological properties may be obtained only by means of the uterine electrical signals measurement. In the following paper, the classical interpretation of the uterine contraction activity which relies upon its mechanical and electrical activity was presented. Additionally, the frequency parameters provided exclusively by the electrical signal were proposed. The possibility of the electrohysterogram analysis may provide more complete information on uterine muscle functioning. Results of the research studies show that further development of electrohysterography will enable its wider application in pregnancy and labour diagnostics.
authors.affiliation: Katedra i Klinika Połoznictwa i Ginekologii SLAM, ul. Medyków 14, 40-752 Katowice. jerzyzietek@interia.pl
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zietek
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sikora
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Horoba
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matonia
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jezewski
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Magnucki
authors.forename: Lucyna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kobielska
mesh_terms: D015148:Cardiotocography / Q000379:methods; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology*; D008365:Manometry / Q000379:methods; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018590:Uterine Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D014599:Uterus / Q000502:physiology