Preliminary study of 3D ultrasound in visualization of levator hiatus in intrapartum women / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To visualize the pelvic floor structures by translabial three‐dimensional(3D) ultrasonography performed during labor and immediately after delivery, and to observe the morphological changes of levator hiatus in intrapartum women. Methods Totally 62 nulliparous women with singleton pregnancy and cephalic presentation in labor ward underwent intrapartum translabial 3D ultrasound examination before cervical dilatation, at 10 cm dilatation and immediately after delivery. Volume datasets were obtained at rest, biometric measurements and observation of the morphological changes of levator hiatus in different stages were determined in the axial plane. Comparative analyses of parameters in three stages were carried out. Results Translabial 3D ultrasound demonstrated the pelvic floor structures of intrapartum women well. All biometric measurements of the hiatus before cervical dilatation were the smallest and became the largest at 10 cm dilatation, showed statistically significant differences. The measurements after delivery got smaller immediately but still significantly larger than those before cervical dilatation ( P <0 0.01). Conclusions Translabial 3D ultrasound examination of the pelvic floor during labor and within the first 2h after delivery is feasible. It seems to be an effective tool to visualize pelvic floor structures in intrapartum women. Hiatal enlargement may be a common consequence of vaginal childbirth.