A validation of electrohysterography for uterine activity monitoring during labour.
OBJECTIVE
Validation of electrohysterography (EHG) as a method for uterine activity monitoring during labour by comparing with intra-uterine pressure catheter (IUPC) recordings.


METHODS
Prospective observational study.


METHODS
Labour ward in a tertiary centre in the Netherlands.


METHODS
Thirty-two women in labour.


METHODS
Simultaneous recording of uterine activity with EHG and IUPC for at least 30 min.


METHODS
Number of uterine contractions detected by both EHG and IUPC (sensitivity). Number of contractions detected by EHG only [positive predictive value (PPV)]. Correlation between contraction amplitude and duration measured by EHG and IUPC.


RESULTS
EHG detects uterine contractions accurately: sensitivity = 94.5% (95%CI: 87.5-100), PPV = 88.3% (95%CI: 76.2-100). The correlation of contractions' duration and amplitude between both methods is r = 0.31 (95%CI: 0.23-0.39) and r = 0.45 (95%CI: 0.38-0.52), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
EHG detects uterine contractions accurately during labour but the contraction's characteristics it measures are not directly comparable with that of IUPC.
Jacod
Benoit C
BC
Department of Obstetrics, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands. bjacod@gmail.com
Graatsma
Elisabeth Margo
EM
Van Hagen
Eline
E
Visser
Gerard H A
GH
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology*; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000502:physiology*