Evaluation of Sharma's modified Leopold's maneuvers: a new method for fetal palpation in late pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate new maneuvers developed by the author for fetal palpation in late pregnancy and comparing them with traditional Leopold's maneuvers.

METHODS

A total of 224 women with term pregnancy who underwent abdominal palpation by Sharma's modified Leopold's maneuvers developed by author using fingers, hands and forehand for better palpation were evaluated and compared with Leopold's Maneuver.

RESULTS

The mean age was 24.5 years, mean parity 2.2, mean gestation 38.2 weeks. Sharma's modified Leopold's pelvic maneuver could correctly diagnose occipito-anterior position in 95.0% cases as compared to 84.4% by Leopold's maneuvers (P=0.04), while it could correctly diagnose occipito-posterior position in 96.3% cases as compared to 66.6% by Leopold's maneuvers (P=0.0012). In breech presentation also Sharma's modified Leopold's fundal maneuver could correctly diagnose presentation in all cases as compared to 92.9% by Leopold's maneuvers. While in a transverse and oblique lie, Sharma's right and left lateral maneuvers could correctly diagnose presentation as well as position of acromion in all cases (100%).

CONCLUSION

The new maneuvers for fetal palpation appear to be very simple and accurate method for making out fetal presentation and position in late pregnancy.