CerviLenz

I started using CerviLenz in the hospital to triage patients with preterm labor symptoms because I was impressed with Dr. Burwick’s research comparing CerviLenz to fFN.  Just as that study suggested, CerviLenz has had a very positive impact on efficiency and cost.  We’ve cut both triage time and fFN analysis in half using CerviLenz for our initial assessment. 

Now I’m also using CerviLenz in my office because cervical length is such an important diagnostic data point for preterm birth risk assessment.  All of my patients get TVU cervical length at their anatomy scan mid-gestation.  With CerviLenz, I’m measuring cervical length again around 22-24 weeks to make sure I’m identifying all the high risk patients and can change their management as appropriate.  For high risk patients, it’s also great to be able to monitor for cervical shortening during regular office visits with CerviLenz rather than sending everyone out for TVUs every week or two.  CerviLenz is definitely adding clinical value to my practice and benefits my patients. 

CerviLenz fits really well into midwifery practice.  The goal of midwifery care is to help women have and maintain a healthy pregnancy.  CerviLenz is an easy-to-use tool that helps midwives identify women at risk for preterm birth so that we can help minimize that risk.  That’s why I’m using CerviLenz in my office.  When a patient’s CerviLenz measurement is short, I refer her to an MFM for a TVU to confirm cervical length and consultation about specialized care.  It’s also wonderful to have CerviLenz to help reassure women with a normal cervix that they do not need intervention.  With CerviLenz, I am confident that each patient is getting the care she needs.

I provide prenatal care and often triage preterm labor patients in our urban clinic.  CerviLenz was easy to use and clinically useful.  For most patients with a long CerviLenz measurement, I could quickly rule out preterm labor and sent those patients home after a quick triage visit.  Given its comparable predictive power to fFN, having CerviLenz really helped us improve triaging when fFN was contraindicated.  And, during a routine prenatal visit, a patient measured short with CerviLenz.  We ordered a TVU and that confirmed a short cervix.  We transported her to L&D at our hospital across the street, where she was admitted and delivered later that day.  In all cases, CerviLenz helped us decide what level of care the patient needed.

In midwifery, we use a lot of intuition but with preterm labor I don’t want to guess if she’s at risk or about to deliver.  CerviLenz provides me with objective data that assists with my management decisions and gives me an added level of confidence.  Anyone can say “long thick and closed” or “3 cm dilated and 100% effaced.”  It’s in the middle ground where CerviLenz is really helpful.

One of my patients had been calling everyday concerned about preterm labor.  I had her come to the office so I could use CerviLenz to measure her cervical length.  I showed her the 36 mm measurement and explained what it meant.  The CerviLenz measurement was very reassuring - for me and for my patient.  She hasn’t called in 10 days!