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Use of intrauterine pressure catheters - UpToDate

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The frequency, duration, and strength of uterine contractions are important factors in the assessment of labor progress and in the interpretation of fetal heart rate patterns. Four methods to evaluate contractions are available: manual palpation, external tocodynamometry, internal tocodynamometry, and electrohysterography [1]. External palpation and external tocodynamometry are the most common methods for assessing uterine activity, and provide adequate information in most patients. However, external palpation is subjective and requires the physical presence of a clinician to perform frequent examinations. Although external tocodynamometry provides an objective record of the frequency and duration of contractions without requiring the physical presence of a clinician, the tracing can be interrupted by maternal movement and contraction strength cannot be quantified since the device is measuring the tension of the abdominal wall over the uterus. Internal tocodynamometry using an intraute

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