NCT05718180

Brief Summary

The use of ultrasound has been suggested to support the management of labour. According to several studies, ultrasound examination is more accurate and reproducible than clinical examination in diagnosing fetal head position, fetal station, and the prediction of labour arrest. Furthermore, there is growing evidence that ultrasound in labour may predict the outcome of instrumental vaginal delivery: a support to assess when an operative delivery is necessary. Ultrasound in labour can be performed using a transabdominal approach, mainly to determine head and spine position, or a transperineal approach, to assess head station and the situation at low stations. Several sonographic parameters have been proposed to evaluate the head station. Furthermore, all ultrasound parameters studied so far, have always been measured with the woman in a supine position. While the biomechanics of childbirth with its mechanisms (known as nutation, counter-nutation of the pelvis, and the coccyx retropulsion) together with maternal movement, promote fetal rotation and the adaptation of its diameters with those of the maternal pelvis, allowing to gain more room for the fetal descent. Moreover, in most of the studies on intrapartum ultrasound, the mobility of the pelvis has not been mentioned. The contracted pelvis is the absence of mobility that leads to fetal-pelvic disproportion, arrest of labour, and operative delivery. Maternal pelvis biomechanics studies by high technological techniques have shown that maternal shifting positions during pregnancy and childbirth can create more room in the pelvis for safe delivery. The external and internal pelvic diameters are closely related. For this reason, the evaluation of the mobility of the pelvis appears to be a necessary element to understand the ability of that pelvis to widen its diameters for fetal descent. The aim of the study is to measure the variation of AoP, HSD, HPD, PAA in the supine position and in kneeling-squat position in the same woman and the cut-offs of the new ultrasound parameters and predictive capacity for vaginal birth.

Trial Health

43
At Risk

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
177

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Jun 2023

Typical duration for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

3 active sites

Status
unknown

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

May 6, 2022

Completed
9 months until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

February 8, 2023

Completed
4 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

June 1, 2023

Completed
2.1 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

June 30, 2025

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

June 30, 2025

Completed
Last Updated

May 17, 2023

Status Verified

May 1, 2023

Enrollment Period

2.1 years

First QC Date

May 6, 2022

Last Update Submit

May 15, 2023

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (15)

  • Ultrasound AoP EP

    To measure AoP (Angle of progression), expressed in degrees in the supine position and kneeling squat position in the same woman during the expulsion phase (EP) up to 3 hours

    Beginning of the expulsive phase (active second stage): with complete dilation and the perception of an urge to push.

  • Ultrasound AoP RS

    To measure AoP (Angle of progression), expressed in degrees in the supine position and kneeling squat position in the same woman during the resting step (RS) up to 3 hours

    During the resting step

  • Ultrasound AoP P

    To measure AoP (Angle of progression), expressed in degrees in the supine position and kneeling squat position in the same woman during the push (P) up to 3 hours

    During the push

  • Ultrasound MLA EP

    To measure MLA (MidlineAngle) expressed in degrees in the supine position and kneeling squat position in the same woman during the expulsion up to 3 hours

    Beginning of the expulsive phase (active second stage): with complete dilation and the perception of an urge to push.

  • Ultrasound MLA RS

    To measure MLA (MidlineAngle) expressed in degrees in the supine position and kneeling squat position in the same woman during the resting step up to 3 hours

    During the resting step

  • Ultrasound MLA P

    To measure MLA (MidlineAngle) expressed in degrees in the supine position and kneeling squat position in the same woman during the push up to 3 hours

    During the push

  • Ultrasound PAA EP

    To measure the PAA (pubic arch angle) expressed in degrees in the supine position and kneeling squat position in the same woman during the expulsion phase up to 3 hours

    Beginning of the expulsive phase (active second stage): with complete dilation and the perception of an urge to push.

  • Ultrasound PAA RS

    To measure the PAA (pubic arch angle) expressed in degrees in the supine position and kneeling squat position in the same woman during the resting step up to 3 hours

    During the resting step

  • Ultrasound PAA P

    To measure the PAA (pubic arch angle) expressed in degrees in the supine position and kneeling squat position in the same woman during the push up to 3 hours

    During the push

  • Ultrasound HSD EP

    To measure the HSD (head-symphysis distance) expressed in millimeters, in the supine position and kneeling squat position in the same woman during the expulsion phase up to 3 hours

    Beginning of the expulsive phase (active second stage): with complete dilation and the perception of an urge to push.

  • Ultrasound HSD RS

    To measure the HSD (head-symphysis distance) expressed in millimeters, in the supine position and kneeling squat position in the same woman during the resting step up to 3 hours

    During the resting step

  • Ultrasound HSD P

    To measure the HSD (head-symphysis distance) expressed in millimeters, in the supine position and kneeling squat position in the same woman during the push up to 3 hours

    During the push

  • Ultrasound HPD EP

    To measure the HPD (head perineum distance) expressed in millimeters, in the supine position and kneeling squat position in the same woman during the expulsion phase up to 3 hours

    Beginning of the expulsive phase (active second stage): with complete dilation and the perception of an urge to push.

  • Ultrasound HPD RS

    To measure the HPD (head perineum distance) expressed in millimeters, in the supine position and kneeling squat position in the same woman during the resting step up to 3 hours

    During the resting step

  • Ultrasound HPD P

    To measure the HPD (head perineum distance) expressed in millimeters, in the supine position and kneeling squat position in the same woman during the push up to 3 hours

    During the push

Secondary Outcomes (9)

  • mode of delivery

    during delivery

  • duration of labour stages

    during labour stages

  • fetal weight

    at delivery

  • fetal position

    at the beginning of delivery

  • reasons for possible caesarean section

    immediately after caesarean section

  • +4 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Supine

EXPERIMENTAL

Measures are performed first in the supine position and then in a flexible sacrum position

Other: Transperineal imaging

Flexible

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Measures are performed first in a kneeling squat position and then in the supine position

Other: Transperineal imaging

Interventions

To measure the difference between ultrasound parameters based on maternal position: to measure the variation of AoP (Angle of progression), MLA (Midline Angle), PAA(pubic arch angle expressed in grades) HSD (head-symphysis distance) HPD(head perineum distance) expressed in millimeters, in the supine position and kneeling squat position in the same woman during the expulsion phase, in the resting step and during the push.

FlexibleSupine

Eligibility Criteria

Sexfemale
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • pregnant women with singleton pregnancies
  • at term gestation (37 weeks)
  • fetus in cephalic presentation
  • absence of factors hindering vaginal delivery

You may not qualify if:

  • complicated pregnancies
  • vaginal birth after Cesarean
  • twin pregnancies
  • early pregnancy
  • women condition that exclude vaginal birth

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (3)

Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Sant'Orsola Malpighi

Bologna, Italy

Location

Azienda Ospedale Università Padova

Padua, Italy

Location

Ospedale Cristo Re

Roma, Italy

Location

Central Study Contacts

Honoria Ocagli, PhD

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
SCREENING
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

May 6, 2022

First Posted

February 8, 2023

Study Start

June 1, 2023

Primary Completion

June 30, 2025

Study Completion

June 30, 2025

Last Updated

May 17, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-05

Locations