title: Is intrapartum translabial ultrasound examination painless?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To find out whether intrapartum translabial ultrasound examination is painless by comparing pain score of ultrasound-based versus digital vaginal examination of foetal head station.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 94 women carrying uncomplicated-term singleton pregnancies, labour progress was assessed by translabial ultrasound, followed immediately by conventional digital vaginal examination. Pain scores (0-10) using visual analogue pain scale were obtained for both examinations. Forty-eight and forty-six sets of data were obtained in first and second stage of labour, respectively. The difference in pain scores between digital vaginal examination and translabial ultrasound was analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median pain score for translabial ultrasound was 0 (range 0-8), while that for vaginal examination was 4.5 (range 0-10), p < 0.05. There was no significant difference in pain scores between first and second stages of labour for translabial ultrasound (p = 0.123) and for vaginal examination (p = 0.680). The pain score for vaginal examination was higher than that of translabial ultrasound in 81.9%, similar in 13.8% and lower in 4.3% of cases. There was no statistically significant difference in pain scores obtained for digital vaginal examination by clinicians with different experience (p = 0.941).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intrapartum translabial ultrasound is generally better tolerated than digital vaginal examination for assessment of labour progress, making it an acceptable adjunctive assessment tool during labour.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Kwong Wah Hospital , Kowloon , Hong Kong and.
authors.forename: Ying Tze Viola
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Kwong Wah Hospital , Kowloon , Hong Kong and.
authors.forename: Kwun Sin Vivian
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Kwong Wah Hospital , Kowloon , Hong Kong and.
authors.forename: Wai Kuen
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Yung
authors.affiliation: b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Princess Margaret Hospital , Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Tsz Kin
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Kwong Wah Hospital , Kowloon , Hong Kong and.
authors.forename: Wai Lam
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Kwong Wah Hospital , Kowloon , Hong Kong and.
authors.forename: Wing Cheong
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Leung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D058869:Gynecological Examination / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007748:Labor Stage, Second; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Foetal head station; labour; pain score; translabial ultrasound; vaginal examination