Comparative Study of Ultrasound with Transvaginal Finger Examination in Diagnosis of Abnormal Position and Presentation of Fetal Head

Abstract

Background: Abnormal position and presentation are challenges for obstetricians in about 10% of all pregnancies. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare ultrasound with transvaginal finger examination in detecting abnormal position and presentation of fetal head. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study performed in Ali ibn-e Abitaleb Hospital of Zahedan in 2018. The women underwent vaginal finger examination in the first phase of delivery, and then trans-abdominal ultrasound was performed for pregnant women. All examinations and ultrasounds were performed by one person with the same ultrasound device. Data were analyzed with SPSS software. Results: In this study, 100 pregnant women were studied in the first phase of pregnancy. The mean age of the subjects was 24.7 ± 5.5 years old. Fetal head position was determined in 81 and 93% of women with vaginal examination and ultrasound, respectively. There was weak agreement (kappa = 0.416). Fetal presentation was determined by finger examination in 93% of cases and by ultrasound in 100% of cases. There was moderate agreement (kappa = 0.783). Conclusions: In general, the results of this study showed that there was no significant difference between ultrasound and finger examination in the presentation and position of fetal head.