Intrapartum uterine activity: evaluation of an intrauterine pressure transducer.

A newly available intrauterine pressure transducer was evaluated clinically in 100 patients. Successful insertion was accomplished in 95%. There were no significant intrapartum maternal or fetal complications. Partial dehiscence of a surgically scarred uterus did occur in one patient who received the device, but a clear relationship between its attempted insertion and the dehiscence was not apparent. Early in the clinical trial, a number of devices malfunctioned; the manufacturer defined and remedied the problem. The intrauterine transducer required no maintenance and appeared to be practical in laboring women. We suggest that the utility of the intrauterine pressure transducer might be enhanced with several modifications, including the addition of a re-zeroing mechanism and a reduction in the device's length.