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Objective

Bishop Score assessment of cervical consistency is subjective. Consistency is believed to reflect water content and collagen organization in the cervix. Ultrasound attenuation (the loss of energy through tissue) is related to water content of tissue. The objective of this translational study was to determine if ultrasound attenuation can objectively quantify cervix consistency change during induction of labor.

Study Design

We performed a prospective observational study on women who were scheduled for induction of labor at> 39 weeks gestation. At admission, participants underwent cervical exam to determine Bishop Score and transvaginal ultrasound to measure cervical length and attenuation. The exam and ultrasound measurements were repeated 12 hours after initiation of cervical ripening. Clinical outcomes and demographic data were collected. Comparisons were performed using Sigma Stat.

Results …