OPTIMIZING TRANSPERINEAL SONOGRAPHIC IMAGING OF THE CERVIX - THE HIP ELEVATION TECHNIQUE

Although transperineal ultrasonography is a valuable technique for ima ging the cervix in pregnancy, transperineal imaging can be compromised when bowel gas obscures the external portion of the cervix. To determ ine if a hip elevation technique could improve visualization of a part ially obscured cervix, transperineal scanning was performed with the h ips and buttocks elevated on a thick cushion in 23 patients with subop timal routine transperineal views. The ''hips up'' maneuver was tolera ted by all patients and improved cervical visualization in 19 of 23 ca ses. We conclude that the simple maneuver of elevating the patient's h ips and buttocks on a thick cushion is a useful adjunctive technique t o improve transperineal imaging of the cervix when routine transperine al views are compromised by adjacent bowel gas.