Validity of Indications and Clinical Outcome of Transabdominal Cervicoisthmic Cerclage for Cervical Incompetence / 대한주산의학회잡지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to review the indications of transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage and clinical outcome to determine whether it is a valid alternative to transvaginal cerclage. METHODS: A retrospective review was carried out of transabdominal cerclage patients at our hospital from Jan. 1999 to Dec. 2004. Analysis of the indications for the transabdominal rather than the vaginal approach and evaluation of fetal outcomes was performed. RESULTS: 48 patients underwent transabdominal cerclage. The primary indication for transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage was failed transvaginal cerclage in 23 patients, the secondary indication was short cervix for transvaginal cerclage in 19 patients and cervical laceration in 6 patients. In 48 pregnancies, 8 twins were included. Therefore, total number of fetus was 56. One fetus of twin died in uterus at 27 weeks of gestation with unknown cause. 48 patients successfully delivered 55 live babies by Cesarean section. However, three babies died due to Tetralogy of Fallot, gastroschisis and preterm delivery. Complication including blood loss requiring transfusion did not occur. All patients had histories compatible with incompetent cervix requiring cerclage, and none were suitable candidates for vaginal cerclage. Live birth rate was 92% (52/56), compared with 28% salvage of pregnancies beyond the first trimester before the transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Our results and review of literature confirm that with strict indications transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage offers a high rate of fetal salvage with minimum of complications in patients with extremely poor obstetric histories because of cervical incompetence.

Outcome of 2nd Pregnancy after Transabdominal Cervicoisthmic Cerclage in Patient with Incompetent os of the Cervix / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of further successful pregnancies and prognosis after delivery where the band was not removed from a transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage (TCIC) after a first successful pregnancy. The candidates of TCIC were those who were diagnosed with incompetent internal os of cervix (IIOC) and either had failed to maintain pregnancy after undergoing transvaginal cerclage (TVC) or could not undergo TVC due to cervical abnormalities. METHODS: During the period from May of 1991 until November of 2002, there were total 20 cases in which the band was not removed after previous TCIC, followed by a first successful pregnancy. RESULTS: In the 20 patients who had undergone TCIC, the average age, average gestational age at the time of operation, average number of previous pregnancy, average number of surviving fetus, average number of preterm delivery, and average number of fetal death were 32 years old, 12.8 weeks, 5.4, 0.2, 2 and 2.2, respectively. Cesarean section was performed at an average gestational age of 37.1 weeks in which the average birth weight was 2903 g in the first born child among 19 patients. In the following pregnancies, the average age of the patients were 34 years old in which there were 17 successful deliveries out of 20 cases where the average gestational period was 35.4 weeks and an average weight of 2661 g. There was an average of 22.5 months between the time of the first and second delivery. CONCLUSION: When the location and tension of the band had been confirmed after the first delivery in a total of 20 patients, there was a high successful delivery rate of 85% (17/20) in the next pregnancy. In this study, there was no evidence to support the complications reported in previous studies of difficulty in removal of trophoblastic tissue after abortion, dysmenorrhea, and increase in infertility associated with non removal of bands.

The Comparison between Modified Transvaginal Cerclage and Transabdominal Cervicoisthmic Cerclage after a failure of Previous Transvaginal Cerclage in Incompetent Internal Os of Cervix Patients / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: Incompetent internal os of cervix is one of the most common causes of midtrimester abortion in which interventions such as, transvaginal cerglage and transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage (TCIC) have been performed to prolong pregnancy. Transabdominal cerclage is beneficial in treating patients with cervices that are either extremely short, congenitally deformed, deeply lacerated after operative delivery, or markedly scarred because of previously failed transvaginal cerclage procedures. Due to technical difficulties and the fact that a cesarean section is necessary for delivery, has not been a procedure easily adopted. The purpose of our study was to compare the effectiveness of selected Modified McDonald cerclage (MTVC) and TCIC was compared in patients who had history of a previously failed transvaginal cerclage in other hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pregnancy outcomes of 13 patients who underwent TCIC from November 1997 to January 2002 and those of 28 patients who underwent MTVC from January 2000 to January 2002 were compared. Statistical analysis was done using Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney. RESULTS: The fetal salvage rates for total 13 cases of TCIC and 28 cases of MTVC were 100% (13/13) and 85.7% (24/28), respectively. The fetal salvage rates between these two groups were not statistically different. The mean gestational age at the time of operation in TCIC group was 13.15 (+/-1.63) weeks, mean gestational weeks delayed until delivery was 23.85 (+/-3.24) weeks and mean fetal body weight was 2780.77 (+/-667.33) gm. Comparably, the mean gestational age at the time of operation in MTVC group was 15.00 (+/-2.05) week, mean gestational weeks delayed until delivery was 9.96 (+/-6.65) week and mean fetal body weight was 2530 (+/-1071.26) gm. CONCLUSION: In patients who had a history of failure of TVC, the effectiveness of TCIC and MTVC had no statistical significance. Treatment with MTVC should be considered since TCIC is technically difficult and requires cesarean section.

Clinical usefulness of transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage in IIOC patients for whom transvaginal cervicoisthmic cerclage is unsuitable / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to review the clinical use of transabdominal cervicoishmic cerclage to determine whether it is a valid alternative to transvaginal cerclage. Study design : A retrospective review was carried out of transabdominal cerclage patients at our hospital from Jan. 1999 to May. 2001. Analysis of the clinical use of transabdominal rather than the vaginal approach in some IIOC patients was performed and fetal outcomes was evaluated. RESULTS: Fifteen patients underwent transabdominal cerclages. The primary indication for transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage was failed transvaginal cerclage in 9 patients and anatomic unsuitability for transvaginal cerclage in 6 patients. Follow-up was conducted for all except one patient. All patients were successfully delivered of live babies by Cesarean section. Complications including blood loss requiring transfusion did not occur. However one baby died at postpartal 1 day because of congenital Tetralogy of Fallot. CONCLUSION: All patients had histories compatible with incompetent cervix requiring cerclage, and none were suitable candidates for vaginal cerclage. Our results and review of the literature confirm that Transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage has an important role to play for carefully selected patients.

Transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage during pregnancy: The strength of cerclage band and the pregnancy outcomes / 대한산부인과학회잡지

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: After introducing transabdominal approach of cervical cerclage since 1965, several authors have reported significant increases in fetal survival rate. However, this procedure has not been widely used because its complexity of procedure and serious complications. Furthermore, there is a dilemma on the strength of the cerclage bands knots. Yet, there is no standard guidance in this approach. The purpose of this study was to suggest degree of adequate tension on the knot when tying the cerclage band on the cervico-isthmic junction during post-conceptional transabdominal cerclage and to assess whether the strength of the band is associated with uterine blood flow or pregnancy outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Sixty-five transabdominal cervico-isthmic cerclages during pregnancy were performed for 7 years since 1989 in patients of incompetent cervix who could not be taken transvaginal cerclage. The procedures were performed with our own technique, modified technique from original Novys procedure. The cerclage used a 5mm-Mersilene band and knot was placed on the anterior side. Pre- and post-operative uterine blood flow were evaluated with Doppler velocimetry. After cesarean section at term, cerclage bands were removed and collected for measurement of bands length if they do not want further pregnancies. The relationships between strength of cerclage, length of band and pregnancy outcomes were evaluated. The effects of the bands length on the uterine blood flow were also analyzed. RESULTS: To date there have been 56 completed pregnancies in 50 patients. Among these, 21 cerclage bands were removed and collected for measurement of bands length. All pregnancies (27 pregnancies from 21 patients) were successful; the average gestational age at delivery was 38.4 weeks (range: 37-43) and mean birth weight was 3178gm (range:2670-4370). Average length of cerclage bands was 7.01cm(range:5.0-9.4), thus diameter of cerclage bands was calculated as 2.2cm. Statistically, significant positive correlation was found between the bands' length and birth weights (r=0.614, p=0.002). There were no differences between pre- and post-operative uterine blood flow regardless of cerclage bands length. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest 7cm is adequate bands length when performing transabdominal cerclage during pregnancy. Uterine blood flow was not influenced by operation. It was interesting that bands length was correlated with birth weight. It seems that tightened cerclage might preclude the adequate formation of lower uterine segment during pregnancy. Recently we use the specific Mersilene bands after marking of each centimeter interval on it, and bands are tied with 7cm in length for adequate strength of the cerclage. We propose this result also could be used when performing the pre-conceptional transabdominal cerclage.

Study on Pregnancy Outcomes after Transabdominal Cervico-Isthmic Cerclage before Pregnancy / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate the effect of transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage before pregnancy among the patients who had poor obstetric outcome from previous failed transvaginal cervical cerclage and/or an anatomically defective cervix. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of pre-conceptional transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage patients was conducted at Hanyang University Medical Center from 1989 to 1997, and analysis of the pregnancy outcomes after preconceptional transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage operation. RESULTS: The fifteen patients had 11 successful pregnancy outcomes. Two patients had two consecutive succesful pregnancies and repeat cesarean section deliveries after TCIC. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage before pregnancy offers a high rate of fetal salvage with a minimal complications in patients with extremely poor obstertric histories as a result of cervical incompetence, where vaginal cerclage is not warranted.

Study on Pregnancy Outcomes after Transabdominal Cervico-Isthmic Cerclage during Pregnancy / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: Transabdominal cervico-isthmic cerclage(TCIC) may increase the fetal salvage rate and pregnancy outcome in selected women when poor obstetric outcome is related to previously failed transvaginal cervical cerclage and an anatomically defective cervix. Our purpose was to evaluate the outcomes after transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage during pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review was done from patients who had been received transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage during pregnancy at Hanyang University Medical Center from October, 1989 to April 1997. The fetal salvage rate before and after post-conceptional transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage were compared and analysed. RESULTS: The seventy-eight patients had 95 successful pregnancies out of a total of 97. Thus the fetal salvage rate of TCIC during in pregnancy was 97.9 %. Of 78 patients, nineteen patients had the second succesful pregnancies and repeat cesarean deliveries after TCIC. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage during pregnancy offers a high fetal salvage rate with a minimal complications in patients with extremely poor obstertric histories as a result of cervical incompetence, where vaginal cerclage is not warranted.