Intrapartum ultrasound before instrumental vaginal delivery: clinical benefits are difficult to demonstrate

We read with interest the recently published randomized controlled trial by Barros et al. evaluating the role of intrapartum ultrasound prior to instrumental vaginal delivery (1). In this study, which was stopped after the enrolment of just over one third of the estimated sample size, the Authors could not demonstrate any improvement of the labor outcomes in women submitted to transabdominal ultrasound for the assessment of the fetal head position and to transperineal ultrasound for the measurement of the angle-of-progression prior to instrumental delivery compared to standard care.