A new method using vaginal ultrasound and transfundal pressure to evaluate the asymptomatic incompetent cervix

Objective: To evaluate the ability of ultrasound with transfundal pressure to detect the incompetent cervix in pregnant women at risk for this condition. Methods: One hundred fifty pregnant women with no prior pregnancy losses were scanned transabdominally, and 31 asymptomatic pregnant women with a prior history of cervical incompetency or risk for this condition were scanned transvaginally. The control patients were scanned once between 1624 weeks, and the patients at risk were studied 73 times between 8-25 weeks. After evaluating the cervix and is internal os, transfundal pressure was applied. Cervical cerclages were placed for cervical funneling and shortening in response to transfundal pressure or for a grossly incompetent cervix on ultrasound evaluation