Analysis of Bioelectrical Uterine Activity for Detection of Threatening Premature Labour

Abstract

Premature birth is the leading cause of a neonatal death, so, it is extremely important to distinguish the pregnancy at risk of preterm threatening labour. The electrohysterography seems very promising as a method which enables noninvasive recording of readable bioelectrical signal of uterine muscle. The developed instrumentation enabled simultaneous recording of bioelectrical signals by means of electrodes attached to abdominal wall and mechanical activity of uterine muscle using fetal monitor. Material comprised 27 patients physiological pregnancy (27 ÷ 40 week), and 21 patients (23 ÷ 36 week) with the symptoms of threatening premature labour. The obtained results showed that quantitative parameters detected uterine contractions: amplitude and contraction area, obtained both for mechanical and electrical activity, were statistically significant (p < 0.05) to distinguish the patients risk of premature labour. However, their reliability is low because they strongly depend on individual patient features. We consider the parameters characteristic for electrohysterogram exclusively e.g. contraction power and its median frequency as more useful (p < 0.05). Noninvasive electrohysterography ensures higher sensitivity and specificity for recognition of uterine contraction activity in comparison classical mechanical method.