Ultrasound-predicated versus history-predicated cerclage in women at risk of cervical insufficiency: a systematic review

Nomogram for predicting the risk of preterm delivery after IVF/ICSI treatment: an analysis of 11513 singleton births

Background

There is a higher risk of preterm delivery (PTD) in singleton live births conceived after in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) compared with spontaneously conceived pregnancies. The objective of our study was to build a predictive nomogram model to suggest the possibility of PTD in singleton pregnancies after IVF/ICSI treatment.

Method

11513 IVF/ICSI cycles with singleton live births were enrolled retrospectively. These cycles were randomly allocated into a training group (80%) and a validation group (20%). We used the multivariate logistics regression analysis to determine prognostic factors for PTD in the training group. A nomogram based on the above factors was further established for predicting PTD. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC), areas under the ROC curves (AUC), concordance index (C-index), and calibration plots were analyzed for assessing the performance of this nomogram in the training and validation group.

Results

There were fourteen risk factors significantly related to PTD in IVF/ICSI singleton live births, including maternal body mass index (BMI) > 24 kg/m2, smoking, uterine factors, cervical factors, ovulatory factors, double embryo transferred (DET), blastocyst transfer, FET, vanishing twin syndrome (VTS), obstetric complications (placenta previa, placenta abruption, hypertensive of pregnancies, and premature rupture of membrane), and a male fetus. These factors were further incorporated to construct a nomogram prediction model. The AUC, C-index, and calibration curves indicated that this nomogram exhibited fair performance and good calibration.

Conclusions

We found that the occurrence of PTD increased when women with obesity, smoking, uterine factors, cervical factors, ovulatory factors, DET, VTS, and obstetric complications, and a male fetus. Furthermore, a nomogram was constructed based on the above factors and it might have great value for clinic use.

Effects of Amnioreduction before Physical Examination-Indicated Cerclage on Pregnancy Outcomes: A Propensity Score Matched Study

This study investigated the effects of amnioreduction before physical examination-indicated cerclage on pregnancy outcomes using a propensity score matching analysis. This multicenter retrospective cohort study included women who underwent cerclage operations due to painless cervical dilation in the second trimester (14-28 weeks). The primary outcome was the time from operation until delivery. Secondary outcomes included preterm birth rate and neonatal outcomes. Primary and secondary outcomes were compared between those with amnioreduction and those without amnioreduction. Of 103 women, 31 received preoperative amnioreduction (amnioreduction group) and 72 women did not (no-amnioreduction group). Since there were differences in baseline characteristics and preoperative ultrasound findings between the two groups, we matched 25 women with amnioreduction and 25 women without amnioreduction using a propensity score. In the matched cohort, the amnioreduction group showed a shorter time from operation to delivery than the group without amnioreduction and the hazard ratio of amnioreduction was 2.5 (95% confidence interval; 1.4-4.7). In addition, the preterm birth rate before 28 weeks of gestation and the neonatal composite outcome were higher in the amnioreduction group than that in the group without amnioreduction. Amnioreduction before physical examination-indicated cerclage was associated with poor pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. Therefore, careful consideration is required when performing amnioreduction before cerclage operation.

Translating research evidence into action in daily practice

Information from medical research should be used to optimize management for patients. In this issue, our group starts with a new item, that is, evidence-based case reports, which will provide answers to questions on common clinical problems on diagnosis, prognosis, or interventions in individual patient management in otolaryngology. An explicit and transparent approach is used to separate evidence from judgment in providing reliable updates on these specific patient management issues. These efforts may also prove to be very helpful to identify evidence gaps and provide recommendations for research priorities in otolaryngology.

Prevention of preterm birth based on a short cervix: cerclage

In an attempt to prevent preterm birth, clinicians have recommended cerclage for women with shortened cervical length and other worrisome sonographic cervical features in the mid-trimester, although randomized trials have not supported this practice. Emerging data suggest that preterm birth is a complex and poorly understood syndrome comprising several anatomic and functional components. As a result, preventive efforts have been mostly empiric and generally ineffective. Plausibly, effective preterm birth therapies exist, but matching the effective treatment with the correct patient has been problematic. Mid-trimester cervical changes visualized with vaginal sonography likely represent a pathologic process of premature cervical ripening and not real mechanical disability which has been traditionally treated with suture support. Cerclage may effectively reduce preterm birth in carefully selected women who have experienced a prior early preterm birth and who have shortened mid-trimester cervical length.