Quantitation of uterine activity in 100 primiparous patients.

Publication/Presentation Date

2-15-1976

Abstract

An on-line technique for quantitating uterine activity by measuring the total area under the intrauterine pressure curve was utilized during the labor of 100 primiparous patients. Uterine activity was measured in uterine activity units (1 UAU=1 Torr minute). UAU's were calculated for each patient in both cumulative and noncumulative fashions. The rate of uterine activity (UAU per unit of time) increased as labor progressed, yet the total UAU's expended at each centimeter of dilatation progressively decreased with advancing dilatation. Thus, the rate of cervical dilatation increased faster than could be accounted for by the increase in uterine activity. The implication being that the efficiency of uterine contractions increases with advancing labor. It no longer appears reasonable to refer to labor in terms of elapsed time. Information regarding the "pattern of cervical dilatation" and uterine activity appears to be much more meaningful to the evaluation of progress in labor. Quantitation of uterine activity may provide useful information for the ongoing management of labor. Quantitation of UA does provide a means of evaluating the effects of specific events such as medication, anesthesia, and manipulation on UA.

Volume

124

Issue

4

First Page

398

Last Page

405

ISSN

0002-9378

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

1251861

Department(s)

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Document Type

Article

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