ABSTRACT
Objectives: To study cervical length measurement by transvaginal ultrasound at 20-28 weeks as predictor for women at risk of preterm delivery
Methods: This study was done over a period of one year between 2012 and 2013 at prince Rashid Bin Al-Hassan Military Hospital- Irbid -Jordan. Cervical assessment by transvaginal sonography was done in 100 women at 20-28 weeks of gestation. The gestation at delivery in woman with cervical length more or equal to 3 cm [group A, n=80] were compared with that in woman with cervical length < 3 cm [group B, n=20]
Results: thirty-eight percent of patients were primigravidas and 61.25% were multigravidas in group A, while 35% of them were primigravidas and 65% were multigravidas in group B. The most age group of the women was between 21-30 years in both groups. The incidence of preterm delivery was 13.75% in group A as compared to 90% in group B [p<0.005]. In group A of the 80 women 11 delivered preterm [13.75%], 7 of them between 32 and 37 weeks of gestation and 4 women before 32 weeks. While in group B, 18 of the 20 women [90%] delivered preterm [10 before 32 weeks, 8 between 32 and 37 weeks and 2 after 37 weeks]. The mean cervical length in group A women was 3.5+/-0.6 cm, while it was 2.1+/-0.5 cm in group B women
Conclusion: Transvaginal ultrasound has been shown to be an objective sensitive and reliable method to assess the cervix and predict the risk of preterm delivery
ABSTRACT
To determine the frequency of neural tube defects among patients who were delivered at Prince Rashid Bin Al-Hassan Military Hospital and to discuss possible ways to reduce them. This descriptive review study of 11,852 medical records was conducted over a period of two years between the 1[st] of August 2005 and end of July 2007 at Prince Rashid Bin-Al-Hassan Military Hospital in Irbid-Jordan. During the study period, there were 17 cases of neural tube defects [1.4/1000 births], of these there were five cases of spina bifida [0.42/1000 births], three cases of encephalocele [0.25/1000 births], and nine cases of anencephaly [0.76/1000 births]. The overall female to male ratio was 1: 0.89. The most common neural tube defect was anencephaly [52.9%], and the commonest site of spina bifida was the lumbosacral region in 2/5 [40%]. One case of encephalocele was associated with malformations while four cases [80%] of spina bifida were associated with other malformations. The frequency of neural tube defects is high and probably on the decreasing in Jordan. We may be able to reduce such defects by recommending women of childbearing age to take daily Folic acid [400mcg] for at least three months before they become pregnant and throughout the first trimester