The Role of External Tocodynamometry in Perinatal Medicine

Aubry and Pennington [1], more than a decade ago, suggested that only through identification of the high-risk pregnancy could the limited health care manpower, dollars, and technology be appropriately applied to maximize perinatal outcome. Since preterm birth remains the greatest contributor to perinatal morbidity and mortality, these authors further suggested the use of external tocodynamometry to better identify patients at risk for preterm labor and birth. They concluded that “external tocodynamometry appears to be very promising in terms of a clinically useful predictor of impending premature labor.”