The predictive value of hemogram parameters for early preterm delivery in pregnant women undergoing cervical cerclage.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the predictive value of hemogram parameters in early preterm delivery (32 gestational weeks and below) among pregnant women who have undergone cervical cerclage, based on cervical changes determined before the cerclage procedure. METHODS: Between 2010 and 2020, a total of 161 patients underwent cervical cerclage. The participants were divided into three groups. Group 1 (n=92) consisted of pregnant women who underwent prophylactic cerclage. Group 2 (n=31) included those with cervical shortening (<5 mm) and/or dilation (≤3 cm). Group 3 (n=38) comprised pregnant women with cervical dilation >3 cm. Each group was further divided based on delivery weeks, with a cutoff at 32 weeks. Demographic parameters and laboratory parameters were assessed. RESULTS: In Group 1, all hemogram parameters showed no significant differences between deliveries below and above 32 weeks. In Group 2, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio value before cerclage was higher in the early preterm delivery group (p=0.002), with a cutoff value of 4.75 in receiver operating characteristic analysis. In Group 3, the white blood cell value before cerclage was higher in the early preterm delivery group (p=0.005), with a cutoff value of 13.05×103/µL in receiver operating characteristic analysis. CONCLUSION: The use of hemogram parameters to predict early preterm delivery in pregnant women undergoing prophylactic cerclage is not appropriate. However, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio value can predict early preterm delivery when cervical dilation is 3 cm or less and/or cervical shortening is 5 mm or less. When cervical dilation exceeds 3 cm, the white blood cell value is more appropriate for predicting early preterm delivery.

Arabin-pessary or McDonald Cerclage in Cervical Shortening?

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.

Laparoscopic Transabdominal Cerclage for Cervical Incompetence: A Feasible and Effective Treatment in 10 Steps.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the surgical technique of laparoscopic cerclage (LAC) in nonpregnant women with a clinical diagnosis of cervical incompetence. In this video, the authors describe the complete procedure in 10 steps to standardize and facilitate the comprehension and performance of the procedure in a simple and safe way. DESIGN: Step-by-step video demonstration of the surgical technique. SETTING: Private hospital in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. INTERVENTIONS: The patient was 32 years old (gravidity and parity, G3A3; late progressive miscarriage), had no comorbidities, and had a radiologic diagnosis of cervical incompetence. The main steps of LAC are described in detail. A complete laparoscopic approach was performed. Under general anesthesia, the patient was placed in the 0-degree supine decubitus position with arms alongside her body. The operative setup included a 15-mm Hg pneumoperitoneum created using the closed Veress technique and 4 trocars: a 10-mm trocar at the umbilicus for a 0-degree laparoscope; a 5-mm trocar in the right iliac fossa; a 5-mm trocar in the left iliac fossa; and a 5-mm trocar in the suprapubic area. After systematic exploration of the pelvic and abdominal cavities, the procedure began. Step 1 involved identification of anatomic key landmarks and exposure of the operation field. Step 2 involved opening of the anterior peritoneum. The anterior peritoneal reflection was opened over the peritoneum uterovesicalis and then extended laterally until the uterine artery could be clearly identified on both sides. Step 3 involved dissection of the avascular space on each side of the uterus. The vesical-cervical avascular space was created, and the bladder was pushed down, away from the isthmus area. Step 4 involved preparation for a perfect stitch placement. A 5-mm Mersilene suture (Ethicon, Somerville, NJ) with a straight needle was introduced by a suprapubic trocar into the abdominal cavity before a complete identification of uterine vessels at both the sides using atraumatic graspers. Step 5 involved identification of the perfect space in the posterior aspect for Mersilene suture placement. Step 6 was to make a perfect anterior stitch. For this, the needle was grasped at the proximal portion in a 90-degree angle. In posterior position and when helped by a cranial and posterior uterine mobilization, the needle passed through the right, broad ligament in the avascular space created on the anterior leaf and medially from the uterine artery until the tip of the needle was seen on the posterior face above the uterosacral ligament. All steps were possible by synchronic uterine mobilization. Step 7 was to make a perfect posterior stitch. The procedure was then repeated contralaterally following the same anatomic and technical precepts but from posteriorly to anteriorly. Step 8 involved correct positioning and orientation of the Mersilene suture far away from the ureter and medial to the uterine arteries 2 cm over the uterosacral ligaments. Step 9 involved fixation of the Mersilene suture with an adequate blocking sequence. Step 10 involved fixation of the Mersilene suture and reperitonealization. The tape was knotted with an adequate blocking intracorporeal suturing sequence at the cervicoisthmic junction, and a Monocryl 2-0 stitch (Ethicon, Somerville, NJ) was made to fix the knot and left it horizontally. Finally, the procedure was ended with anterior reperitonealization, covering all the plica uterovesicalis and mesh, leaving it completely extraperitoneal. The surgery ended without any intraoperative complications and within 30 minutes. Patient was discharged on the first day postoperatively and became pregnant 6 months after surgery, with a C-section delivery of a healthy term newborn at 39 weeks of gestational age. CONCLUSION: LAC in nonpregnant women with a diagnosis of cervical incompetence is safe and feasible in experienced hands, adding all the intrinsic advantages of minimally invasive surgery and providing better obstetric outcomes. In this patient, the procedure was performed without any intra- or postoperative complications, and the patient had an uneventful term pregnancy in the follow-up period. We must remember that adequate standardization of surgical procedures will help reduce the learning curve.

The role of three-dimensional ultrasound in pregnancies submitted to cerclage.

OBJECTIVE: Cervical cerclage is the standard treatment for cervical incompetence (CI); however, there is still a high risk of preterm birth for women who undergo this treatment. The aim of this study was to longitudinally evaluate findings on two-dimensional transvaginal ultrasonography (2DTVUS) and three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasonography (3DTVUS) that could be related to gestational age at birth. METHODS: A total of 68 pregnant women who were treated with cerclage were evaluated by 2DTVUS and 3DTVUS in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Log-rank tests and Cox regression analyses were used to identify significant findings related to gestational age at delivery. RESULTS: A cervical length lower than 281 mm (p= 0.0083), a proximal cervical length lower than 10 mm (p= 0.0151), a cervical volume lower than 18.17 cm3 (p= 0.0152), a vascularization index (VI) under 2.153 (p= 0.0044), and a vascularization-flow index (VFI) under 0.961 (p= 0.0059) in the second trimester were all related to earlier delivery. In the third trimester, a cervical length lower than 20.4 mm (p= 0.0009), a VI over 0.54 (p= 0.0327) and a VFI over 2.275 (p= 0.0479) were all related to earlier delivery. Cervical funnelling in the second and third trimesters and proximal cervical length in the third trimester were not related to gestational age at birth. The COX regression analyses showed that cervical volume in the second trimester; FI and VFI in the third trimester were significantly associated with gestational age at birth. CONCLUSION: In women treated with history-indicated cerclage or ultrasound-indicated cerclage, 2nd trimester cervical volume and 3rd trimester FI and VFI are independent significant sonographic findings associated with time to delivery.

The role of three-dimensional ultrasound in pregnancies submitted to cerclage

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Cervical cerclage is the standard treatment for cervical incompetence (CI); however, there is still a high risk of preterm birth for women who undergo this treatment. The aim of this study was to longitudinally evaluate findings on two-dimensional transvaginal ultrasonography (2DTVUS) and three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasonography (3DTVUS) that could be related to gestational age at birth. METHODS: A total of 68 pregnant women who were treated with cerclage were evaluated by 2DTVUS and 3DTVUS in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Log-rank tests and Cox regression analyses were used to identify significant findings related to gestational age at delivery. RESULTS: A cervical length lower than 281 mm (p= 0.0083), a proximal cervical length lower than 10 mm (p= 0.0151), a cervical volume lower than 18.17 cm3 (p= 0.0152), a vascularization index (VI) under 2.153 (p= 0.0044), and a vascularization-flow index (VFI) under 0.961 (p= 0.0059) in the second trimester were all related to earlier delivery. In the third trimester, a cervical length lower than 20.4 mm (p= 0.0009), a VI over 0.54 (p= 0.0327) and a VFI over 2.275 (p= 0.0479) were all related to earlier delivery. Cervical funnelling in the second and third trimesters and proximal cervical length in the third trimester were not related to gestational age at birth. The COX regression analyses showed that cervical volume in the second trimester; FI and VFI in the third trimester were significantly associated with gestational age at birth. CONCLUSION: In women treated with history-indicated cerclage or ultrasound-indicated cerclage, 2nd trimester cervical volume and 3rd trimester FI and VFI are independent significant sonographic findings associated with time to delivery.

RESUMO OBJETIVOS: Determinar quais características ultrassonográficas obtidas por meio da ultrassonografia transvaginal bidimensional (USG TV 2D) e tridimensional (USG TV 3D) associam-se ao parto prematuro em gestantes submetidas à cerclagem profilática e terapêutica. MÉTODOS: Sessenta e seis gestantes com feto único submetidas à cerclagem profilática ou terapêutica e acompanhadas no ambulatório de Aborto Habitual da Clínica Obstétrica do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP, entre 10 de juho de 2012 e 30 de outubro de 2015, foram avaliadas longitudinalmente, por meio das US TV 2D e US TV 3D associadas ao power Doppler para avaliação do VI, FI e VFI, nos três trimestres da gestação. Os resultados foram avaliados em relação ao parto em idade gestacional (IG) menor que 34 semanas e maior ou igual a 34 semanas, assim como em relação à idade do parto como variável contínua. RESULTADOS: O comprimento do colo uterino (CC) e a distância do ponto de cerclagem ao orifício interno do colo uterino (POI) diminuíram de forma significativa entre o segundo e terceiro trimestres da gestação. O CC, o POI e o afunilamento cervical no terceiro trimestre da gestação tiveram relação com a ocorrência de parto em IG<34 semanas. Na análise de regressão de COX, em que a variável de interesse foi o tempo até o parto, o volume do colo uterino no segundo trimestre e o FI e VFI no terceiro trimestre foram significativos. CONCLUSÃO: Foi possível identificar parâmetros ultrassonográficos do colo uterino bi e tridimensionais que se correlacionam com a idade gestacional do parto.

Laparoscopic interval isthmocervical cerclage with cardiac tape in a patient with previous cervical amputation.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To show the technique of interval laparoscopic isthmocervical cerclage using cotton cardiac tape. DESIGN: Case report (Canadian Task Force Classification III). SETTING: A private practice hospital in Brasília, Brazil. PATIENT: A 36-year-old female patient with primary infertility for 2 years caused by previous amputation of the cervix because of intraepithelial neoplasia. There was no other suspected factor for infertility. Before undergoing in vitro fertilization, she was referred for interval cerclage because of anticipated cervical insufficiency during an eventual pregnancy. The patient's clinical history was unremarkable, except for the fact that she had developed secondary dysmenorrhea since the amputation, which prompted her to undergo cervical dilatation on 2 occasions. During the physical examination, we noted the absence of the exocervix, a mobile and normal-sized uterus and adnexa, and no pain. Informed consent was obtained from the patient for this case report. The local institutional review board considered this report exempt from approval. INTERVENTIONS: The procedure was performed according to the technique described by Pereira et al. We incised the visceral peritoneum in the anterior cul-de-sac and developed the vesicouterine space for complete exposure of the uterine isthmus. Then, we incised the posterior leaf of both broad ligaments superiorly to the uterosacral ligaments and medially to the ureter and uterine vessels. We aimed to identify the bifurcation of the uterine artery and to create a "window" between them and the isthmus to place the cerclage tape. For this purpose, we used a 5-mm 36-cm blunt tip retractor for gastric banding (ref 30623G; Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany) to transfix the broad ligament, anteriorly to posteriorly, under direct vision. We tied 2-0 Vicryl (Ethicon, Sommerville, NJ) sutures to the tips of 0.3 × 80 cm cotton cardiac tape (reference FAB-46; Ethicon) and pulled both edges of the tape through the windows in the broad ligament. The final position of the tape was inferior and medial to the main ascending branch of the uterine artery, right over the isthmus, and without any vessels interposed between them. This is to avoid any possible compression and congestion with uterine progressive enlargement as pregnancy proceeds. We then made 6 square knots in the anterior cul-de-sac and adjusted the tension-free tape firmly enough to give the uterine corpus support during pregnancy evolution. Finally, we closed the visceral peritoneum with a 3-0 PDS running suture (Ethicon). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The surgery lasted 70 minutes, and bleeding was minimal. The patient was discharged the following day. She is currently undergoing her 18th week of pregnancy resulting from in vitro fertilization treatment, and we wait for her obstetric results. CONCLUSION: Cotton cardiac tape is feasible for laparoscopic cerclage and can be used as an alternative to the commonly used Mersilene tape (Ethicon). Laparoscopy safely allows tape placement medial to the uterine vessels. Additional cases are necessary to establish the obstetric effectiveness of cotton cardiac tape for laparoscopic cerclage.

Laparoscopic cervicoisthmic cerclage for the treatment of cervical incompetence: case reports / Cerclaje cérvico-ístmico laparoscópico en el tratamiento de la incompetencia cervical: reporte de casos

Cervical insufficiency/incompetence occurs in 0.5-1% of all pregnancies, often resulting in significant pregnancy lost. Three women with a history of second trimester miscarriages after failed transvaginal cervical cerclages were reviewed. A laparoscopic cervicoisthmic cerclage (LCC) was placed before pregnancy without any intra-operative or postoperative complications. Two patients have since delivered live babies at term by Caesarean section. This small case series supports the conclusion that LCC is a safe and cost-effective procedure in properly selected patients. Laparoscopic cervicoisthmic cerclage costs less, is less invasive, has fewer complications and should replace the traditional laparotomy technique.

La insuficiencia/incompetencia cervical ocurre en 0.5-1% de todos los embarazos, trayendo a menudo como consecuencia una pérdida significativa de embarazos. Se revisaron los casos de tres mujeres con una historia de abortos en el segundo trimestre después de cerclajes cervicales transvaginales fallidos. Un cerclaje cérvico-ístmico laparoscópico (CCL) se realizó antes del embarazo sin ninguna complicación intraoperatoria o postoperatoria. Desde entonces, dos pacientes han parido bebés vivos a término por cesárea. Esta pequeña serie de casos sustenta la conclusión de que el CCL es un procedimiento seguro y costo-efectivo en pacientes propiamente seleccionados. El cerclaje cérvico-ístmico laparoscópico cuesta menos, es menos invasivo, tiene menos complicaciones, y debe reemplazar la técnica de laparotomía tradicional.

Laparoscopic cervicoisthmic cerclage for the treatment of cervical incompetence: case reports.

Cervical insufficiency/incompetence occurs in 0.5-1% of all pregnancies, often resulting in significant pregnancy lost. Three women with a history of second trimester miscarriages after failed transvaginal cervical cerclages were reviewed. A laparoscopic cervicoisthmic cerclage (LCC) was placed before pregnancy without any intra-operative or postoperative complications. Two patients have since delivered live babies at term by Caesarean section. This small case series supports the conclusion that LCC is a safe and cost-effective procedure in properly selected patients. Laparoscopic cervicoisthmic cerclage costs less, is less invasive, has fewer complications and should replace the traditional laparotomy technique.

[Therapeutic assessment of emergency cerclage. Analysis of a cases series]. / Evaluación terapéutica del cerclaje de urgencia. Análisis de una serie de casos.

BACKGROUND: Cervical incompetence is the incapacity of cervix to retain a pregnancy until term or until feasibility of the fetus. Patients present cervical enlargement without pain or contractions, vaginal strange sensation and membranes protrusion through most minimum degrees of enlargement. The cervical incompetence management can be rest in bed or cerclage. The emergency cerclage is carried out in patients with enlargement > or = 2cm with or without membranes prolapsus. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the maternal and neonatal results of emergency cerclage with Espinosa-Flores modified technique in pregnancy from 13 to 28 weeks. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This series of cases was carried out as observational and prospective study, all patients with emergency cerclage and pregnancy from 13 to 28 weeks with cervical incompetence were included, during period of January 2000 to December 2003, in Gynecology and Obstetric Hospital from Medical Center La Raza, IMSS. Variables of study were gestational age at moment of cerclage, pregnancy prolongation, and maternal and neonatal complications. RESULTS: Ten patients were included, with age of 32.1 +/- 5.1 years. It was observed a mean prolongation of pregnancy 10 weeks after cerclage. The gestation was interrupted at 31.1 +/- 5.2 weeks. The most frequently complication was premature membranes rupture. Neonatal survival was 70%. CONCLUSIONS: The placement of emergency cerclage continuous being a therapeutic procedure to improve neonatal prognostic. The shortest prolongations of pregnancy were found in patients with greater enlargement (> or = 3cm) and who had membranes protrusion.

Circlagem do colo uterino por via transabdominal / Transabdominal cerclage

A Incompetência istmo-cervical (IIC) é doença adquirida ou congênita, com frustra repercussão sobre a gestação, que evolui com aborto tardio ou parto pré-termo na maioria das pacientes portadoras da disfunção. O diagnóstico da IIC pode ser realizado no período gestacional (por meio da cervico-dilatação precoce ou da herniação de membranas com líquido amniótico através do canal endocervical parcialmente dilatado - sinal do dedo de luva à ultra-sonografia - com ou sem encurtamento do canal cervical) ou fora deste período (por meio da histerossalpingografia). A circlagem cervical é o único tratamento eficaz para reduzir a incidência das perdas gestacionais de repetição decorrentes da incompetência istmo-cervical, normalmente utilizando-se a via vaginal. Em raros casos nos quais a circlagem cervical não pode ser realizada por esta via, a única alternativa viável é a cirurgia pela via transabdominal. Fazemos uma revisão desta técnica e suas indicações e discutimos aspectos clínicos relevantes na indicação da circlagem cervical

Cerclaje cérvico-ístmico transabdominal: serie clínica

Se comunica el resultado perinatal de trece pacientes con cerclaje efectuado por vía abdominal. Se revisa la historia, la técnica quirúrgica, las indicaciones y las complicaciones del procedimiento. Hubo un 87 por ciento de sobrevida fetal, resultado comparable con series mundiales publicadas. Se destacan dos casos de indicaciones no publicadas anteriormente y asociadas a incompetencia cervical (fístula cérvicovaginal y útero doble). Se concluye que este procedimiento es útil en pacientes con imposibilidad de cerclaje por vía vaginal o en fracasos de cerclajes previos. El mayor riesgo de complicaciones hace necesario que la indicación de este procedimiento sea decidido en cada caso.

[Efficacy of elective cerclage in patients with cervical incompetence and associated risk factors]. / Eficacia del cerclaje electivo en pacientes con incompetencia ístmico cervical y factores de riesgo asociados.

Cervical incompetence (CI) is considered as a defect of the cervical estroma that takes to the inability of the uterine neck to retain an intra-uterine pregnancy until the viability of the fetus, with an incidence from 0.05% to 1% of all the pregnancies. This defect in the cervix is due to obstetrics trauma, such as disfunctional and anatomical causes. The failure of cervical cerclage have been reported up to 20%, this study was carried out to determine the baby born and procedure complications. All patients demanding attention at the Gynecology and Obstetrics Hospital of the Medical Center La Raza, with diagnosis of CI were included in this study. Thus, 36 patients were included, with 30.1 +/- 4.2 (M +/- SD) year-old age; the cerclage was performed in the second trimester, in order to extend the pregnancy with an average of 18.1 +/- 6.5 weeks until the moment of the interruption of the pregnancy. The 61.1% arrived to the term gestation, in 23 of the cases (63.8%) were born with more than 2500 g of weight, and 24 cases also presented a recurrence among 2 to 5 abortions. The most frequent complication was the threat of preterm childbirth and in patient with antecedents of previous obstetric complications was obtained a relative risk (RR) of 3.8 to present CI, moreover it was also observed at the beginning and the end of the obstetric life the probability of CI has a RR 1.6, with a positive correlation between the gestational age at the application of the cerclage and the continuation of the pregnancy (p < 0.05) after the week 16 of gestation. The cerclage application in the second trimester of pregnancy overcomes the risks of the surgical procedure and does not have adverse effects on the product. The main indicators of success are the cerclage application to smaller gestational age, into the second and third gestation, as well as the presence of the smallest number of complicated obstetric events, therefore great part of the obstetric decision to apply a cerclage should be based on previous obstetric life of each patient.

[Emergency cerclage:10 years experience at the ABC Hospital]. / Cerclaje de emergencia: 10 años de experiencia en el hospital ABC.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the success of emergency cerclage procedures and neonatal outcome at the ABC Hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis between January 1, 1991 and December 31, 2000 was carried out. Gestational age at the time of the procedure was recorded, as well as the average time in gestational weeks after the procedure, maternal complications and neonatal outcome. RESULTS: Seven patients were included with dilatation of the internal cervical of 3 cm o more and membranes protruding to the vagina in all cases. Patients with uterine activity, a cerclage procedure in a previous pregnancy, and corioamnioitis were excluded. The average gestational age for the procedure was 23.3 weeks. The average length of duration of the current pregnancy after the procedure was 5.4 weeks; with 58.3% of live newborns recorded. CONCLUSIONS: The emergency cerclage procedure continues to be a heroic attempt to continue the pregnancy. By the results published in the literature, it can be stated that the prolongation of pregnancy is highly variable with neonatal survival rate between 12-73%.

Analisis critico del manejo de la incompetencia cervical

La incompetencia cervical se caracteriza por la dilatación progresiva del cuello uterino en ausencia de contracciones uterinas. Esta condición es causa de aborto de segundo trimestre y parto prematuro. Clásicamente el tratamiento ha sido el cerclaje cervical, cuya utilidad, sin embargo, no ha sido demostrada. La evidencia disponible, y el uso clínico habitual sugiere que el grupo de pacientes con historia clínica característica de incompetencia cervical (abortos repetidos de segundo trimestre secundarios a dilatación cervical pasiva), se beneficiarían del cerclaje cervical en forma electiva entre las 12-14 semanas. Sin embargo, la evidencia no es concluyente respecto de cuál es la mejor opción terapéutica para las pacientes sin historia característica, pero en riesgo de incompetencia cervical (acortamiento cervical ecográfico o antecedente de parto prematuro). Se requiere de estudios randomizados de buen diseño para resolver la pregunta en cada grupo.

A fibronectina fetal na predição do parto prematuro em pacientes com insuficiência istmocervical tratadas pela circlagem à McDonald modificada / Fetal fibronectin in prediction of preterm delivery for patients suffering from cervical imcompetence submitted to modified McDonald's uterine cerclage

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi tentar identificar os casos com maior risco de parto prematuro em gestantes com insuficiência istmocervical (IIC) tratadas pela circlagem uterina à McDonald modificada, por meio do teste da fibronectina fetal .Cinqüenta pacientes portadoras de IIC submetidas a circlagem uterina à McDonald modificada foram analisadas pelo teste de imunoensaio de membrana para detecção da fibronectina fetal nas secreções cervicais entre a 20 e a 30 semana de gestação, no ambulatório específico para abortamento habitual do Departamento de Obstetrícia da Universidade Federal de São Paulo - Escola Paulista de Medicina (UNIFESP - EPM). A incidência de prematuridade foi de 30 por cento (15/ 50). Vinte e seis pacientes (52 por cento) tiveram pelo menos um teste de fibronectina fetal positivo; delas, 8 resultaram em partos prematuros (30,7 por cento) e em 3 pacientes (11,5 por cento) o teste diagnosticou corretamente que o parto aconteceria em até 15 dias após o teste. A idade gestacional média em que se apurou o primeiro resultado positivo foi de 27,8 semanas; entretanto, a idade gestacional média de parturição foi 36,8 semanas, mostrando que o teste foi incapaz de prever o parto em intervalo próximo. Não houve relação diretamente proporcional entre maior número de testes positivos e a parturição. O encontro da fibronectina fetal pelo teste de membrana não foi eficaz em predizer a prematuridade nas pacientes portadoras de IIC submetidas a circlagem à McDonald modificada.

A randomised controlled trial of outpatient versus inpatient cervical cerclage.

Fifty patients with cervical incompetence were randomised to have cervical cerclage either as inpatients, spending 3 days in hospital post-procedure on supervised bed rest or as outpatients spending the time at home on bed rest. Both groups had a clinical diagnosis of cervical incompetence and both had either McDonald or Shirodkar cerclage with mersilene tape. Both groups were given salbutamol tablets for tocolysis, postoperatively. There were no significant difference in the demographic variables between the groups such as previous cerclage, gestational age at insertion, parity and gestational age at delivery. There were also no significant differences in early complications such as bleeding. Most late complications were also not different, including the spontaneous abortion rate, premature rupture of membranes, cervical dystocia and preterm delivery. However, more patients in the outpatient group had premature contractions (26.1% vs. 4.3% P=0.0479). More patients in the inpatient group had a delivery of a live neonate, 86.9% vs. 78.3%, but the difference was not statistically significant. In conclusion, out patient cerclage appears to be a valid option, the higher rate of premature contraction in this group is not a cause for concern in view of the similar mean gestational age at delivery.

Cerclaje transabdominal en el manejo de la incompetencia cervical / Transabdominal cerclage in the cervical incompetence

El propósito fue revisar las indicaciones para el cerclaje transabdominal en el Instituto Nacional de Perinatología. Se realizó una revisión retrospectiva de las pacientes con cerclaje transabdominal con el fin de evaluar los resultados fetales. Desde 1997 se realizaron siete cerclajes transabdominales, su indicación primaria fueron los cerclajes previos por vía vaginal los cuales habían sido fallidos. Todas las pacientes consiguieron un embarazo de término. La tasa de neonatos vivos previos al procedimiento era de 5.2 por ciento comparada con 85.8 por ciento posterior al cerclaje transabdominal. Hubo un caso de muerte fetal a las 37 semanas y dos días en una paciente que cursó con preeclampsia. De los recién nacidos cinco fueron pequeños para la edad gestacional. Concluimos que bajo indicaciones estrictas el cerclaje transabdominal ofrece una alta tasa de sobrevida fetal con un mínimo de complicaciones en pacientes con una pobre historia obstétrica debido a una incompetencia cervical en donde han ocurrido fallas con el cerclaje por vía vaginal.

Manejo y resultado perinatal de la paciente sometida a cerclaje de emergencia / Management and perinatal results of patients submitted to emergency cerclage

La incompetencia cervical puede presentarse con dilatación cervical avanzada y membranas protruyentes, la mayoría de las veces la única posibilidad de rescatar ese embarazo es el cerclaje de emergencia. Sin embargo, existe poca evidencia en la literatura acerca de la conveniencia de realizar cerclaje de emergencia. Reportamos la experiencia acumulada en el Hospital Clínico de la Universidad Católica, entre 1993 y 1998, los procedimientos y el manejo realizado en este grupo de 5 pacientes. En nuestra serie la prolongación del embarazo fue un promedio de 37,7 días con un rango entre 17 y 82 días. La duración promedio del cerclaje in situ fue de 35,5 días. La sobrevida neonatal alcanzó el 60 por ciento y hubo infección ovular clínica en dos (40 por ciento) de las cinco pacientes. Hubo RPM alejada del procedimiento en 40 por ciento de los casos. El promedio de peso de los RN fue de 1.365 g, con un rango entre 840 y 2.325 g. A pesar de la falta de evidencia, existe consenso que este procedimiento permite salvar el embarazo para alcanzar la viabilidad fetal, aunque la incidencia de complicaciones especialmente infecciosas puede ser muy alta