A comparison of surface acquired uterine electromyography and intrauterine pressure catheter to assess uterine activity

OBJECTIVE: Intrauterine pressure catheter (IUPC) is the primary device used to evaluate uterine activity. In contrast to the IUPC, electrical uterine myography (EUM) enables noninvasive measurement of frequency, intensity, and tone of contractions. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of EUM compared to IUPC. STUDY DESIGN: EUM measured myometrial electrical activity using a multichannel amplifier and a noninvasive position sensor. In all, 47 women in labor were monitored simultaneously with an IUPC and EUM. We compared the frequency, intensity, and tone of uterine contractions between the methods. RESULTS: The correlation of the frequency, intensity, and tone of contractions between uterine electromyography and IUPC was strong with significant r values of 0.808-1 (P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Electrical uterine electromyography yields information about uterine contractility comparable to that obtained with IUPC.