Arabin-pessary or McDonald Cerclage in Cervical Shortening? / Pessário de Arabin ou cerclagem McDonald no encurtamento cervical?

Abstract Objective The aim of the present study is to compare the effectiveness of Arabin pessary and McDonald cervical cerclage on preterm delivery. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from patients who underwent either Arabin pessary or McDonald cerclage between January 1, 2019, and January 1, 2023. A total of 174 patients were included in the study, with 31 undergoing Arabin pessary and 143 receiving cervical cerclage using the McDonald technique in singleton pregnant women with cervical insufficiency, which applied between 14 and 22 gestational weeks. We included singleton pregnant women with normal morphology, and with normal combined test. The primary outcome was the impact of each method on preterm delivery (< 34 gestational weeks). Results The weeks of cervical cerclage or pessary application were compatible with each other (p< 0.680). The pessary group had a statistically significant longer time to delivery compared with the Cerclage group (cerclage group mean 30.8 c 7.1 standard deviation [SD] versus pessary group mean 35.1 ± 4.4 SD; p< 0.002). A statistically significant difference was found between the pessary and cerclage groups in terms of delivery at < 34 weeks (p= 0.002). In patients with cervical length between 25 and 15mm and < 15mm, no significant difference was found between the pessary and cerclage groups in terms of delivery week (p< 0.212; p< 0.149). Regardless of the technique applied, no statistically significant difference was observed between cervical length and birth < 34 weeks. Conclusion Our study found that pessary use for cervical insufficiency is statistically more effective than cervical cerclage surgery in preventing preterm births < 34 weeks in singleton pregnancy.

Utilidad de la ecografía transvaginal para la predicción de parto prematuro luego de un cerclaje cervical: revisión de la literatura

Introducción : el tratamiento de la insuficiencia cervical es el cerclaje cervical. Pese a este tratamiento el riesgo de parto prematuro persiste elevado en mujeres con insuficiencia cervical. La mejor forma y utilidad del seguimiento ecográfico de mujeres cercladas es desconocida. El objetivo de esta revisión fue evaluar la capacidad pronóstica de la ecografía transvaginal para predecir riesgo de parto prematuro luego de un cerclaje cervical. Materiales y métodos : realizamos una revisión sistemática de la literatura incluyendo estudios que evaluaran el valor pronóstico de la ecografía transvaginal luego de un cerclaje cervical, para predecir parto prematuro. Resultados : incluimos 14 estudios en la revisión. El parámetro más frecuentemente asociado con parto prematuro fue la longitud cervical posterior al cerclaje, aunque con capacidad predictiva moderada. El punto de corte para definir pacientes en riesgo varió entre 15-28 mm. Conclusión : la longitud cervical disminuida posterior a un cerclaje se asocia con mayor riesgo de parto prematuro. No se ha establecido un valor de corte único ni la utilidad clínica del seguimiento ecográfico de mujeres cercladas.

Introduction : The management of cervical insufficiency involves a cervical cerclage. Despite this treatment, patients with cervical insufficiency remain at high risk of preterm delivery. The best method and utility of ultrasound monitoring for women with cervical cerclage is unknown. The objective of this revision was to evaluate the prognostic performance of ultrasonographic cervical assessment to predict preterm labor after a cervical cerclage. Material and methods : We conducted a systematic literature review, including studies that assessed the prognostic value of transvaginal ultrasound after cervical cerclage in predicting premature birth. Results : We included 14 studies in our review. The most frequently evaluated parameter was cervical length after the cerclage, although with only moderate predictive capacity. The length used to define prognosis varied from 15 to 28 mm. Conclusion : Short cervical length after a cerclage is associated with a higher risk of preterm delivery. A single cutoff value and the clinical utility of ultrasound monitoring for women with cervical cerclage have not been established.

Uso de pesario cervical y prevención de parto pretérmino / Cervical pessary use and preterm labor prevention

Introducción: El parto pretérmino constituye una causa importante de morbimortalidad perinatal con repercusiones sociales y económicas a nivel mundial. La intervención oportuna ante la identificación de factores de riesgo y un adecuado manejo consiguen reducir su incidencia y evitar las consecuencias de la prematurez. Objetivo: El presente trabajo se realiza con el objetivo de destacar al pesario cervical como una herramienta mecánica en la prevención del parto pretérmino, y una opción de tratamiento en embarazos mayores de 25 semanas con insuficiencia cervical. Presentación del caso: Se trata de una paciente de 38 años de edad con antecedente de parto pretérmino espontaneo (de 33 semanas), que ingresa a las 21 semanas de embarazo con dilatación cervical de 3cm y acortamiento de la longitud cervical de 14mm, signos ecográficos: sludge y funneling. Se optó por manejo expectante con medidas complementarias: administración de antibiótico, progesterona y uso de pesario cervical. Tras el control clínico de la infección y mayor acortamiento cervical a 7mm a pesar del uso de progesterona, se colocó un pesario cervical a las 25,5 semanas, a las 27,5 semanas fue dada de alta, a las 36,6 semanas se retiró el pesario tras inicio de actividad uterina. Discusión: La progesterona y el cerclaje son medidas de elección en casos de insuficiencia cervical, sin embargo, ante las dificultades técnicas de colocación; el pesario representó una alternativa. El uso de pesario permitió que el embarazo progrese al término con resultados beneficiosos y sin evidencia de efectos adversos.

Introduction: Preterm delivery is an important cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality with global social and economic repercussions. Timely intervention in the identification of risk factors and proper management reduce their incidence and avoid the consequences of prematurity. Objective:This work is carried out with the aim of highlight the cervical pessary as a mechanical tool in the prevention of preterm birth and a treatment option in pregnancies over 25 weeks with cervical insufficiency. Case presentation: This is a 38-year-old patient with a history of spontaneous preterm delivery (33 weeks), who was admitted at 21 weeks of pregnancy with cervical dilation of 3cm and shortening of the cervical length of 14mm, ultrasound signs: sludge and funneling. Expectant management was opted, with complementary measures: administration of antibiotics, progesterone and use of a cervical pessary. After clinical control of the infection and greater cervical shortening to 7mm despite the use of progesterone, a cervical pessary was placed at 25.5 weeks, at 27.5 weeks she was discharged, at 36.6 weeks she was discharged. The pessary was removed after the start of uterine activity. Discussion: Progesterone and cerclage are the measures of choice in cases of cervical insufficiency, however, given the technical difficulties of placement; the pessary represented an alternative. Conclusion: The use of the pessary allowed the pregnancy to progress to term with beneficial results and without evidence of adverse effects.

History-indicated transvaginal cerclage: results from a single-centre

Background: Cervical incompetence occasionally results in mid-trimester pregnancy loss, preterm labour and increased foetal morbimortality. History-indicated cerclage is proposed when obstetric history suggests cervical incompetence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the maternal-foetal outcomes following prophylactic cervical cerclage.Methods: Retrospective study reviewing data of all women undergoing transvaginal history-indicated cerclage from January 1st, 2008 to December 31th, 2017 at Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve - Faro. Primary outcome: gestational age <37weeks at birth. Secondary outcomes: neonatal morbimortality and intensive care unit (NICU) admission and maternal morbidity. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics 23.Results: A total of 12 history-indicated cerclages were performed (9 women). At first cerclage, mean maternal age, gestity, parity and live children were 27.6, 2.44, 1.11 and 0.78 (87.7% preterm), respectively. At cerclage placement, mean gestational age and cervical length were 16.1 weeks and 27.5mm. Average hospital admission was 10.7 days. In all cases McDonald technique was performed. Four hospital readmissions occurred for threatened labour. Mean gestational age at cerclage removal was 36.9 weeks (83.3% in ambulatory) and 38.9 at delivery. Average time between cerclage removal and labour was 14.5 days. Spontaneous onset of labour occurred in 75% and vaginal delivery in 83.4%. There were no reports of preterm birth, foetal admission to NICU or maternal complications. Mean number of live children after procedure was 1.58.Conclusions: Prophylactic cervical cerclage seems to improve pregnancy outcome with minimal maternal risks. However, our data suggest over inclusion of women, with unnecessary procedures, emphasizing the importance of re-evaluating inclusion criteria.

Insuficiencia cervical y prolapso de bolsa amniótica "en reloj de arena"en gestante pretérmino / Cervical Insufficiency and Prolapse of an "Hourglass" Amniotic Sac in Preterm Pregnant Women

RESUMEN Introducción: La insuficiencia cervical se concibe hoy día como un proceso biológico continuo con grados progresivos de insuficiencia. La expresión más extrema de la insuficiencia cervical se conoce como "bolsa en reloj de arena". La mayoría de los autores están de acuerdo en recomendar el reposo en cama y realizar cerclaje cervical de emergencia. Objetivo: Presentar el caso de una gestante en la que se logró la reversión del prolapso de las membranas amnióticas en "reloj de arena" con buenos resultados perinatales. Presentación de caso: Paciente de 31 años con antecedentes de parto anterior a las 36,5 semanas, que en los momentos actuales cursa una gestación de 20,6 semanas. Acude a la consulta por dolor en hipogastrio y al examen físico se comprueba que la bolsa amniótica protruye por el orificio cervical externo y presenta una dilatación cervical de 2 cm. Se aplica tratamiento medicamentoso y se reduce el prolapso de la bolsa. Conclusiones: Con el tratamiento conservador se logró una buena evolución de la gestación, con parto eutócico y buenos resultados perinatales(AU)

ABSTRACT Introduction: Cervical insufficiency is conceived today as a continuous biological process with progressive degrees of insufficiency. The most extreme expression of cervical insufficiency is known as "hourglass bag". Most authors agree to recommend bed rest and perform emergency cervical cerclage. Objective: To report the case of a pregnant woman in whom the prolapse reversal of the amniotic membranes in hourglass was achieved with good perinatal results. Case report: A 31-year-old patient who is currently pregnant at 20.6 weeks and has history of childbirth prior to 36.5 weeks. She comes to the consultation complaining of pain in hypogastrium. The physical examination shows that the amniotic sac protrudes through the external cervical orifice and there is 2cm cervical dilation. Drug treatment is applied and the prolapse of the sac is reduced. Conclusions: The conservative treatment achieved good evolution of the gestation, with eutócico childbirth and good perinatal results(AU)

Comparison of pregnancy outcomes after transvaginal cervical cerclage for different surgical indications during pregnancy / 中国实用妇科与产科杂志

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analyze and compare the clinical effects of transvaginal cervical cerclage during pregnancy with different surgical indications.METHODS: A total of 39 patients who underwent transvaginal cervical cerclage during pregnancy in the Gynaecology and Obstetrics Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University from July 2012 to June 2018 were enrolled.The patients were grouped according to the indications of surgery:those with the history of late abortion or preterm labor being the indication of surgery were the indication of the history of the cerclage group（group H,20）,and those with the length of the cervix being shortened or the shape of the cervix being changed in vaginal ultrasound indication cerclage group（group U,20）.The patients whose hysical examination revealed dilated cervix with or without amniocentesis were included as emergency cerclage group（group E,7）.The clinical effects of vaginal cervical cerclage during pregnancy were compared among the 3 groups.RESULTS: The gestational week of cerclage in the H group[（15.64 ± 2.96）w] was shorter than that in the U group[（22.04±5.01）w]and the E group[（22.08±2.96）w],and the difference was statistically significant（P0.05）.The extended days[（29.43±47.24）d],gestational age of delivery[（26.39±6.52）w],full-term birth rate（14.29%）and live birth rate（28.57%）in group E were all lower than those in group H[（136.45±53.70）d,（35.60±7.07）w,69.57%,86.36%]and group U[（103.40±36.15）d,（36.81±3.45）w,70.00%,100.00% ],with statistically significant differences（P0.05）.The abortion rate（71.42%）in group E was higher than that in group H（13.04%）and group U（00.00%）（P0.05）.There was no significant difference in preterm birth rate among the three groups（P>0.05）.CONCLUSION: Cervical cerclage with three different surgical indications can effectively improve the pregnancy outcome of patients with cervical insufficiency.The pregnancy outcomes are similar between the indication of the history of the cerclage and the vaginal ultrasound indication cerclage,but better than the emergency cerclage.

Complement C3a, But Not C5a, Levels in Amniotic Fluid Are Associated with Intra-amniotic Infection and/or Inflammation and Preterm Delivery in Women with Cervical Insufficiency or an Asymptomatic Short Cervix (≤ 25 mm)

BACKGROUND: We aimed to estimate whether elevated levels of complement C3a and C5a in amniotic fluid (AF) are independently associated with increased risks of intra-amniotic infection and/or inflammation (IAI) and spontaneous preterm delivery (SPTD) in women with cervical insufficiency or a short cervix (≤ 25 mm). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 96 consecutive women with cervical insufficiency (n = 62) or a short cervix (n = 34) at 17 to 27 weeks, and who underwent an amniocentesis. AF was cultured and analyzed for C3a and C5a by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The primary outcome measures were IAI (defined as a positive AF culture and/or an elevated AF interleukin-6 level [≥ 7.6 ng/mL]) and SPTD at < 32 weeks. RESULTS: In multivariable analysis, AF level of C3a was the only variable significantly associated with IAI, whereas C5a level in AF and serum C-reactive protein level were not associated with IAI. Using SPTD at < 32 weeks as the outcome variable in logistic regression, elevated AF levels of C3a were associated with increased risk of SPTD at < 32 weeks after adjusting for other baseline confounders, whereas elevated AF levels of C5a were not. CONCLUSION: In women with cervical insufficiency or a short cervix, elevated AF level of C3a, but not C5a, is independently associated with increased risks of IAI and SPTD at < 32 weeks. These findings suggest that subclinical IAI or SPTD in the context of cervical insufficiency is related to activation of complement system in AF.

Clinical application of minimalist style cervical cerclage surgery by laparoscope in patients with cervical insufficiency / 中国基层医药

Objective To explore the value of minimally invasive isthmic cerclage by laparoscope in the treatment of cervical insufficiency.Methods 22 patients with uterine insufficiency were selected,including 14 cases of non pregnancy and 8 cases of pregnancy,they all had transvaginal cervical cerclage surgery failure history,and took uterine minimalist cerclage by laparoscope,regularly followed-up and the clinical effect was observed.Results There were 14 cases of non-pregnancy,11 cases of post-operative pregnancy,35+3 to 40+3 weeks of gestation termination,average (38.6 ± 1.2) weeks of gestation,7 cases of gestation,37 +5 to 39 +4 weeks,mean (38.5 ±0.4) weeks.Conclusion Minimally invasive cervix cerclage by laparoscope is a good choice for those who have undergone transvaginal cerclage.

Pregnancy Outcomes Following Transvaginal Cerclage for Cervical Insufficiency: Results From a Single-center Retrospective Study / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

To study maternal and perinatal outcomes after cervical cerclage in both singleton and twin pregnancies,we retrospectively reviewed women undergoing cervical cerclage for cervical insufficiency at Tongji Hospital,Wuhan,China from January 1,2010 to July 31,2015 to evaluate primary and secondary outcomes for subgroups with cervical length (CL) ≤15,＞15 to ＜25,and ≥25 mm.Of 166 patients who underwent cervical cerclage,after exclusion of patients with missed abortion and continuing pregnancy,141 patients (121 singleton and 20 twin pregnancies) were included in the analysis.Mean gestational age at birth was 34.22 and 28.27 weeks for singleton and twin pregnancies,respectively.There were 17 (14.05％) and 13 (33.33％) neonatal deaths in singleton and twin pregnancies,respectively.Mean age (31.60-±4.62 vs.31.22±4.63 years,P=0.39) and gestational weeks at cerclage (18.50-±4.62 vs.19.31±4.99,P=0.47) were similar for both groups.Mean gestational weeks at delivery (34.22±5.77 vs.28.27±6.17,P＜0.001) and the suture to delivery interval (15.72±7.15 vs.8.96±6.70,P＜0.001) were significantly longer in the singleton group.These variables indicate a linear negative correlation with the degree of CL shortening,with better outcomes in patients with CL ≥25 mm who underwent cerclage,both in singleton and twin pregnancies.No difference in mode of delivery existed between the singleton group and twin group.Our results indicate a high risk of preterm delivery in both groups,especially in the twin group.Patients with a history of preterm labor and CL ＞25 mm in the current pregnancy,possibly in a twin pregnancy,could benefit from elective cervical cerclage;however,cervical cerclage was inadvisable for twin pregnancies with a CL ＞15 and ＜25 mm.Our data emphasize the importance of re-evaluating the efficacy of cervical cerclage for twin pregnancies in well-designed clinical trials.

Post-cerclage ultrasonographic cervical length can predict preterm delivery in elective cervical cerclage patients

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of transvaginal ultrasound measurements of cervical length before and after elective prophylactic cervical cerclage in predicting preterm delivery before 32 weeks of gestation. METHODS: Women who underwent an elective cerclage operation at 14 to 19 weeks of gestation and who delivered between January 2004 and December 2009 were enrolled in this study (n=52). Ultrasonography was performed to measure cervical length before and after cerclage. The primary outcome was defined as preterm delivery before 32 weeks of gestation. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the most discriminating cut-off values of ultrasonographic cervical parameters predictive of preterm delivery before 32 weeks of gestation. RESULTS: Among the 52 patients studied, ten delivered before 32 weeks of gestation. Among the ultrasonographic cervical parameters compared, only the cervical length after cerclage was significantly different (shorter) in patients who delivered before 32 weeks of gestation (P=0.037) compared to that of those who delivered after 32 weeks of gestation in univariate and multivariate analyses (odds ratio, 0.402; 95% confidence interval, 0.174 to 0.925; P=0.021). The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that a cervical length of 25 mm or less after cerclage was predictive of preterm delivery before 32 weeks of gestation (area under curve, 0.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.56 to 0.87; P=0.029) with a sensitivity of 91.0% and a specificity of 30.0%. CONCLUSION: Patients with a cervical length less than 25 mm after elective cerclage may be at higher risk of preterm delivery before 32 weeks of gestation.

A Systematic Review of Elective, Urgent and Emergency Cervical Cerclage and Pregnancy Outcomes.

Introduction: Different cervical cerclage namely elective, urgent and emergency are in practice and they aim to improve the maternal and perinatal outcomes. Methods: The aim of this systematic review and analysis is to assess the difference in the outcomes of the three different cerclages. Randomized or quasi randomized controlled studies from last 15 years were considered in this study. The relative risk was calculated with 95% confidence interval and the maternal and perinatal outcomes were compared. Results: A total number of 923 patients were analyzed from the nine studies. Out of these 923 patients, 783 patients had adverse maternal outcome whereas all the patients had some form of adverse perinatal outcome. The urgent cerclage was comparable with the elective cerclage in most of the outcomes except having 3-4 folds higher pregnancy loss but 75% lower neonatal deaths. The emergency cerclage showed poor outcomes when compared to both urgent and elective cerclage with a very high risk of chorioamnionitis and less term births with high risk of neonatal deaths. Conclusion: Elective cerclage seems to have an overall better outcome when compared to the other two cerclages. The urgent cerclage is comparable to elective cerclage with lesser risk of neonatal death but a threefold higher risk of pregnancy loss. The emergency cerclage has shown poor outcome when compared to the other two types of encerclage. Therefore it can be recommended to evaluate the cervical length after one previous preterm delivery and if would to be less than 25 mm then a cervical cerclage should be considered.