Dear Colleagues,

Traditionally, the evaluation and management of labor is based on clinical findings and vaginal examinations. The diagnosis of arrest of labor and decisions about the timing or type of intervention are based primarily on digital assessment of cervical dilation and the station and position of the fetal head. However, the clinical examination of the head and its position is inaccurate and subjective.
Ultrasound evaluation has now been introduced in the delivery room. Several studies have shown that ultrasound is more accurate and reproducible than clinical examination in diagnosing the position and station of the fetal head and in predicting the arrest of labor. Ultrasound examination can, to some extent, distinguish women destined for spontaneous vaginal delivery from those destined for surgical delivery. In addition, there is growing evidence that ultrasound during labor can predict the outcome of instrumental vaginal delivery.
The goal of this special issue is to provide additional data about the usefulness of intrapartum ultrasound to resolve delivery management problems.
Dr. José Antonio Sainz Bueno

Guest Editor