The Angle of Progression at Station 0 and in Magnetic Resonance and Transperineal Ultrasound Assessment

D Iliescu; S Tudorache; R Dragusin; O Carbunaru; C Patru; M Florea; I A Gheonea

doi:10.1155/2015/748327

The Angle of Progression at Station 0 and in Magnetic Resonance and Transperineal Ultrasound Assessment

Case Rep Obstet Gynecol. 2015:2015:748327. doi: 10.1155/2015/748327. Epub 2015 Sep 21.

Authors

D Iliescu¹, S Tudorache¹, R Dragusin², O Carbunaru², C Patru², M Florea¹, I A Gheonea³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Prenatal Diagnostic Unit, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova, Petru Rares 2, 200349 Craiova, Romania.
² Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Emergency County Hospital Craiova, Romania, Tabaci 1, Dolj, 200642 Craiova, Romania.
³ Department of Radiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova, Petru Rares 2, 200349 Craiova, Romania.

Abstract

The transperineal ultrasound (TPU) value of the angle of progression (AOP) during fetal head engagement, at station 0, is a critical cut-off for current obstetrical practice, especially when intrapartum instrumental interventions are required. Still, controversial measurements were reported in previous high resolution imagistic studies. Our TPU and direct "gold-standard" magnetic resonance (MRI) measurements confirm that station 0 corresponds to a 120° AOP, concordantly. Based on these findings, the fact that an AOP of 120° or greater was previously strongly associated with vaginal delivery may be due to the achievement of head engagement in labor.