Montevideo units

Montevideo units are a method of measuring uterine performance during labor. They were created in 1949 by two physicians, Roberto Caldeyro-Barcia and Hermogenes Alvarez, from Montevideo, Uruguay.

Units are calculated by internally (not externally) measuring uterine pressure above baseline tone and multiplying by the number of contractions in a 10 minute period.^[1] Uterine pressure is generally measured through an intrauterine pressure catheter.

Montevideo units can be more simply calculated by summing the individual contraction intensities in a ten minute period, a process which should arrive at a result identical to the original method of calculation.^[2]

Generally, above 200 MVUs is considered necessary for adequate labor during the active phase.

Example

If, for instance:

• uterine pressure above baseline were 50 mmHg
• during the 10 minute period of measurement 3 contractions occurred
• total Montevideo units (MVUs) would be equal to 150 MVUs (50 * 3)

References

1. ^ "MATERNITY GUIDE - Labor & Delivery". http://familymed.uthscsa.edu/residency/maternityguide/labor&delivery.htm. Retrieved 2010-03-28. 
2. ^ Ball, RH; Espinoza, MI; Parer, JT (1994). "Regional blood flow in asphyxiated fetuses with seizures". Am J Obstet Gynecol 170 (1): 156–261. 

External links

• eMedicine