The clinical use of intrauterine pressure catheters.

We question the need for an intrauterine pressure catheter (IUPC) to monitor uterine contractions during the induction or augmentation of labor with oxytocin, or to verify adequate uterine contractions to support the diagnosis of arrest of labor. There are appropriately conducted clinical trials demonstrating that uterine contraction frequency in spontaneous, induced and augmented labors obtained with the use of external tocography is sufficient for the clinical management of labor. The value of an IUPC is further diluted by the inherent variability of pressure recordings with its use and the potential of the infrequent risks associated with insertion. Particularly pertinent is the fact that the use of an IUPC for this indication has never been proved to have a positive effect on maternal or neonatal outcome.