Urogenital cultures and preterm birth in women with cervical cerclage: a single center retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The leading hypothesis of the pathogenesis of cervical insufficiency suggests a role of cervical inflammation. Urogenital tract infections could play a causative role in this process. To test this hypothesis in women with a cervical cerclage, we aimed to retrospectively examine the relationship between gestational age (GA) at delivery and positive urogenital cultures.

METHODS

This single center retrospective study reviewed the records of all women with a singleton pregnancy that underwent cervical cerclage (n = 203) between 2010 and 2020 at the University Hospital of Leuven, Belgium. Transvaginal cerclages were categorized as history indicated (TVC I, n = 94), ultrasound indicated (TVC II, n = 79) and clinically indicated (TVC III, n = 20). Additionally, ten women received transabdominal cerclage (TAC). Urogenital cultures (vaginal and urine) were taken before and after cerclage with 4-week intervals. Urogenital cultures were reported 'positive' if urine and/or vaginal cultures showed significant growth of a microorganism. Treatment decision depended on culture growth and clinical presentation. The primary aim was to evaluate the association between the urogenital culture results and the GA at delivery, for each of the cerclage groups. Secondarily, to investigate the effect of antibiotic treatment of positive cultures on GA at delivery.

RESULTS

Positive pre-cerclage urogenital cultures were associated with lower GA at delivery in TVC III (positive culture 26w4d ± 40d vs. negative 29w6d ± 54d, p = 0.036). For TVC I, GA at delivery was longer when pre-cerclage urogenital cultures were positive (positive culture 38w0d ± 26d vs. negative 35w4d ± 42d, p = 0.035). Overall post-cerclage urogenital cultures status was not associated with a different GA at delivery. Treating patients with pre- or post-cerclage positive urogenital cultures did also not change GA at delivery.

CONCLUSION

Positive urogenital cultures taken before clinically indicated cerclage intervention may be associated with lower GA at delivery. However, there seems to be no benefit of antibiotic treatment or routine urogenital cultures during follow-up of asymptomatic women after cerclage placement.

Effect of different surgical routes on pregnancy outcome of history-indicated cervical cerclage

OBJECTIVE

To study the guiding significance of medical history on laparoscopic and vaginal cervical cerclage in the treatment of cervical incompetence and its influence on pregnancy outcome.

METHODS

A total of 53 cases by laparoscopic abdominal cervical cerclage (LAC group) before pregnancy and 73 cases by transvaginal cervix cerclage (TVC group) at 12-14 weeks of pregnancy were collected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed on the influencing factors of delivery gestational weeks. Furthermore, the gestational weeks after cervical cerclage were compared between the two groups with high- and low-risk grades.

RESULTS

The number of previous uterine cavity operations in LAC group was more than that TVC group, and the costs of operation were more than TVC group. At the same time, the hospitalization days and operation time were longer than those in TVC group, and the delivery rate of cesarean section was higher than TVC group, but the total hospitalization times were less than TVC group (P < 0.05). The rate of delivery before 34 weeks of pregnancy and the incidence of premature rupture of membranes or premature labor in LAC group were lower than those in TVC group (P < 0.05). In TVC group, the increased number of prior PTB or STL and the history of cervical cerclage failure would increase the risk of premature delivery before 34 weeks of pregnancy. There was no increased risk of preterm delivery before 34 weeks of pregnancy in LAC group (P > 0.05). According to the risk level, in the high-risk group, the delivery rate of LAC group at gestational weeks < 37 weeks, < 34 weeks and < 28 weeks was lower than that of TVC group.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic cervical cerclage might be more effective in preventing premature delivery before 34 weeks of gestation, and its influence on delivery gestational weeks was not affected by related medical history. For high-risk patients with the history of prior PTB or STL and failed cerclage, laparoscopic cervical cerclage might be more effective than vaginal cervical cerclage in preventing extremely preterm before 28 weeks, premature delivery before 34 weeks and premature delivery before 37 weeks. Therefore, our limited experience suggested that LAC can be a recommended option for patients with high-risk history.

Perinatal outcomes in patients undergoing repeat cerclage: A retrospective case series study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to describe the pregnancy outcomes of a case series of patients with probable cerclage failure who received repeat cerclage (RC) with potential indications.

METHODS

We retrospectively collected a case series of 55 singleton pregnancies with RC from 2019 to 2022 in Shanghai, China. All included women provided written informed consent, and the study was approved by the ethics committees of the two hospitals. We compared pregnancy outcomes between pregnancies with RC for different indications.

RESULTS

Among the case series, nine patients underwent RC for the indication of protruding membranes below the previous suture loop (group A), and the other 46 patients for painless cervix dilation (group B). Gestational age at delivery was shorter in group B than in group A (30.7 vs 37.6 weeks, P = 0.009). Rates of preterm birth <32 weeks (63.0% vs 22.2%, P = 0.033) and < 37 weeks (76.1% vs 33.3%, P = 0.002) were significantly higher in group B than in group A. Of the 46 patients who underwent RC for painless cervical dilation, 28 had cervical dilation of 1 to 2 cm (group C) and the other 18 had cervical dilation of 3 to 6 cm (group D). The gestational age at delivery was shorter in group D than in group C (27.4 vs 31.5 weeks, P = 0.037). However, rates of preterm birth <32 or <37 weeks were similar between the groups.

CONCLUSION

RC may constitute a rescue strategy for patients with probable cerclage failure. Protrusion of membranes below the cerclage loop or cervical dilation <3 cm may be an indicator of better pregnancy outcome.

Outcomes of Ultrasound or Physical Examination-Indicated Cerclage according to the Degree of Cervical Dilation

OBJECTIVE

 Pregnancy outcomes of individuals receiving cervical cerclage when the cervix is dilated are not well known. We sought to examine preterm birth rates after ultrasound or physical examination-indicated cerclage placement according to the degree of cervical dilation.

STUDY DESIGN

 This was a retrospective cohort study of individuals with singleton pregnancies undergoing ultrasound or physical examination-indicated cerclage before 240/7 weeks of gestation from 2004 to 2018. Individuals were categorized based on the degree of cervical dilation at the time of cerclage. Our primary outcome was preterm delivery at less than 37 weeks of gestation. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95th confidence intervals (95% CI), controlling for predefined covariates.

RESULTS

 Of 147 individuals undergoing ultrasound or physical examination-indicated cerclage, 90/147 (61%) had a closed or 0.5 cm dilated cervix at the time of cerclage placement, 45/147 (31%) had a cervical dilation of 1 to 2.5 cm, and 12/147 (8%) had a cervical dilation of 3 to 4 cm at the time of placement. Individuals with a cervical dilation of 1 to 2.5 cm compared with those who had a closed cervix did not have increased odds of preterm delivery (58 vs. 42%; aOR: 1.95; 95% CI: 0.93-4.07). However, individuals with a cervical dilation of 3 to 4 cm compared with individuals who had a closed cervix had significantly increased odds of preterm delivery (75 vs. 42%; aOR: 4.33; 95% CI: 1.05-17.77).

CONCLUSION

 The rate of preterm birth increases with increasing cervical dilation at the time of cerclage placement. However, individuals who have a cerclage placed when the cervix is 1 to 2.5 cm can achieve an outcome that is not significantly different from those who had a cerclage placed when the cervix is closed.

KEY POINTS

· Time from cerclage placement to delivery decreases as cervical dilation increases.. · Individuals 1 to 2.5 cm dilated at the time of cerclage can achieve a favorable outcome.. · A cervical dilation of ≥3 cm at cerclage placement was associated with extreme prematurity..

Risk factors for high-stage histological chorioamnionitis among pregnancies with cervical incompetence

AIM

The study aimed to identify predictive risk factor to identify high-stage histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) in pregnancies with cervical incompetence (CIC).

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted by including 116 pregnant women with cervical incompetence that required prophylactical and therapeutical cerclage. The histopathology examination on placenta was conducted with informed patient consent. All the cases included in this study were divided based on the severity degree of HCA. The demographic characteristic and the parameters related to maternal and fetal outcome were all analyzed. Besides, perioperative parameters of cerclage, including cervical length, cervical morphology, and laboratory indexes were also compared between two groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to determine the risk factor of severe chorioamnionitis.

RESULTS

Severe HCA was significantly associated with cervical morphology, cerclage indication, cerclage type, and cervical length measured via ultrasound and vaginal examination. After adjusted for confounders, V-type funneling and short cervix was indicated as independent risk factors of severe HCA by multivariate logistic regression analysis, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

V-type funneling and short cervix may indicate the elevated risk of high-stage HCA. Due to the negative outcomes related with high-stage HCA, appropriate prenatal treatment would improve the pregnancy outcomes in cerclaged population. To facilitate postpartum treatment, placental histological examination should be routinely recommended to identify the high-stage HCA, especially in high risk pregnancies.

Noninvasive factors predicting the maintenance of pregnancy for more than 4 weeks after rescue cerclage in singleton pregnancies with cervical dilatation and prolapsed membrane

Studies on noninvasive factors and predicting the maintenance of pregnancy, and those comparing the usefulness of these factors with invasive amniotic fluid markers in predicting the maintenance of pregnancy following rescue cerclage, are lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, White blood cell (WBC) count, absolute neutrophil count (ANC), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in maternal blood, which are noninvasive and readily available clinical markers, can predict the maintenance of pregnancy following rescue cerclage in patients with cervical insufficiency (CI). A total of 142 singleton pregnant women (15-28 wk) who underwent rescue cerclage for CI were retrospectively evaluated. The interleukin (IL)-6 concentration in the amniotic fluid; CRP levels, WBC count, ANC, and PLR in the maternal peripheral blood; and degree of cervical dilatation were evaluated before cerclage. The primary outcome was whether the pregnancy was maintained for >4 weeks after rescue cerclage. Among the 142 patients, prolonged pregnancy for >4 weeks following emergent cerclage was observed in 107 (75.35%), while 35 (24.65%) gave birth within 4 weeks. This study demonstrated that the degree of cervical dilatation at diagnosis; WBC count, ANC, and CRP levels in the maternal peripheral blood; and IL-6 concentration in the amniotic fluid significantly differed between the successful and failure groups (all P < .05). The area under the curve (AUC) of the amniotic fluid IL-6 concentration was .795 for the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth within 4 weeks after rescue cerclage. Additionally, the AUC of the CRP level, cervical dilatation, WBC count, ANC, and PLR were .795, .703, .695, .682, and .625, respectively. These findings suggest that the preoperative CRP levels can be considered a useful noninvasive marker comparable to amniotic fluid IL-6 concentration for identifying pregnant women with CI at high risk of spontaneous preterm birth following rescue cerclage.

Prediction of outcomes for rescue cerclage in cervical insufficiency: A multicenter retrospective study

Purpose: Cervical insufficiency is a significant risk factor for preterm birth and miscarriage during the second trimester; cervical cerclage is a treatment option. This study seeks to evaluate the predictive roles of various clinical factors and to develop predictive models for immediate and long-term outcomes after rescue cerclage. Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective study on patients who underwent rescue cerclage at 14 to 26 weeks of gestation. Data were collected from the Electronic Medical Record systems of participating hospitals. Outcomes were dichotomized into immediate failure (inability to maintain pregnancy for at least 48 hours post-cerclage, gestational latency < 2 days) and long-term success (maintenance of pregnancy until at least 28 weeks of gestation). Clinical factors influencing these outcomes were analyzed. Results: The study included 98 patients. Immediate failure correlated with longer prolapsed membrane lengths, elevated C-reactive protein levels at admission, and extended operation time. The successful maintenance of pregnancy until at least 28 weeks was associated with earlier gestational age at diagnosis, negative AmniSure test results, longer lengths of the functional cervix, and smaller cervical dilatation at the time of cerclage. Binary logistic regression models for immediate failure and long-term success exhibited excellent and good predictive abilities, respectively (AUROC = 0.912, 95% CI: 0.834-0.989; and AUROC = 0.872, 95% CI: 0.788-0.956). Conclusion: The developed logistic regression models offer a valuable tool for the prognostic assessment of patients undergoing rescue cerclage, enabling informed clinical decision-making.

Vaginal delivery of triplets after emergency transvaginal cerclage: A case report and literature review

RATIONALE

To report a peculiar case of vaginal delivery of a triplet after emergency transvaginal cerclage and to find a way to optimize some extreme situations encountered in clinical practice after evaluating feasibility.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 33-year-old gravida 6, para 0050 woman at 21 + 6 weeks of gestation was referred to the obstetric department for opening of the cervical canal. An emergency McDonald cerclage was performed at 22 weeks of gestation after a comprehensive assessment, and the pregnancy ended with vaginal delivery at 24 + 6 weeks of gestation. The postpartum period was normal, and the newborns were discharged to home care after treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit.

INTERVENTIONS

After discussing the risks, the patient requested emergency transvaginal McDonald cerclage at 22 weeks of gestation.

OUTCOMES

Emergency McDonald cerclage was performed at 22 weeks of gestation, and the pregnancy ended with vaginal delivery at 24 + 6/25 weeks of gestation, successfully prolonging gestation by 20/21 days. The postpartum period had no exceptional circumstances, and newborns were discharged to home care after treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit for 104/98/104 days.

LESSONS

Emergency cerclage seems to be impossible in multiple pregnancies. However, in this case, after a comprehensive assessment, it was feasible to extend the gestational age by emergency cerclage, and prompt and accurate evaluation is important to avoid complications and individualize the following management. In this case, we may find a way to optimize some extreme situations encountered in clinical practice and offer a glimmer of hope for families challenged with multiple pregnancies at risk of preterm delivery. However, more high-quality studies are needed to prove the effectiveness and safety of emergency cerclages in triplets.

Transvaginal cerclage for prevention of preterm birth in twin pregnancies with cervical dilatation or shortening: A prospective observational study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy of transvaginal cerclage in twin pregnancies with cervical shortening, and to narrow the threshold cervical length for transvaginal cerclage.

METHODS

This is a prospective cohort study and 177 twin pregnancies with asymptomatic cervical dilatation or cervical length of 15 mm or less between 16+0 and 25+6 weeks of pregnancy were included. Patients independently chose either transvaginal cerclage (n = 129) or no cerclage treatment (n = 48) after being consulted on the risk and potential benefit of transvaginal cerclage. The primary outcome measures were gestational age at delivery and neonatal survival rate.

RESULTS

Compared with the no cerclage group, the cerclage group exhibited a higher gestational age at delivery (32.1 ± 4.5 vs 28.3 ± 6.2 weeks, P < 0.001) and a higher neonatal survival rate (86.4% vs 47.9%, P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that in twin pregnancies with cervical dilatation or cervical length less than 10 mm, the cerclage group had significantly higher gestational age at delivery (31.3 ± 4.6 vs 23.4 ± 4.3 weeks, P < 0.001) and a higher neonatal survival rate (123 [85.4%] vs 4 [9.1%], P < 0.001) than the no cerclage group, but in twins when cervical length was 10-15 mm, the two measures were similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Transvaginal cerclage may provide benefits for twins when cervical dilatation or cervical length is less than 10 mm, but its efficacy might not extend to twins when the cervical length is 10-15 mm. Further evidence is needed to confirm the efficacy of transvaginal cerclage for twin pregnancies with a short cervix.

Value of post-cerclage transvaginal ultrasound in predicting preterm birth at <28 weeks in twin pregnancy with ultrasound-indicated cerclage

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the value of transvaginal ultrasound parameters before and after cerclage in twins in predicting spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) before 28+0 weeks.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied the medical records of twin-pregnant women who underwent ultrasound-indicated cerclage between January 2016 and February 2022 at our hospital. Recorded transvaginal ultrasound images before and after cerclage were reassessed for cervical length (CL), uterocervical angle (UCA), funneling, and sludge. Multivariate logistic and Cox regression analyses were performed to identify the independent risk factors associated with sPTB before 28 weeks.

RESULTS

A total of 69 women were included. Among them, 17 women (24.64%) delivered before 28 weeks of age. Regression analysis revealed a significant association of post-cerclage CL, UCA, white blood cell (WBC) count, and gestational age (GA) at cerclage with sPTB before 28 weeks. The area under the curve of these predictors was 0.938 (95% confidence interval, 0.882-0.994; p < .001), with a sensitivity of 88.2%, specificity of 92.3%, positive predictive value of 78.9%, and negative predictive value of 96.0%. Cox analysis showed that post-cerclage UCA was an independent risk factor affecting the cerclage-to-delivery interval (hazard ratios, 1.026; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.004-1.048; p = .019).

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of post-cerclage CL, UCA, WBC count, and GA at cerclage showed good performance in predicting sPTB at <28 weeks in twin pregnancy. Post-cerclage UCA is also associated with pregnancy latency. We found that post-cerclage cervical ultrasound may be useful to predict preterm birth before 28 weeks in twins who undergo ultrasound-indicated cerclage.

Screening and Prevention of Preterm Birth in Twin Pregnancies

Twins represent 3.2% of all live births. However, they account for 20% of all preterm deliveries, 60% delivering <37 weeks, 10.7% <32 weeks, and 5 times higher risk of infant death. Risk factors for preterm birth (PTB) include the history of preterm delivery, monochorionic twins, short cervical length, and cervical surgery. Transvaginal cervical length <24 weeks is the best tool to predict PTB. Only vaginal progesterone in women with transvaginal cervical length <25 mm and physical exam indicated cerclage in women with cervical dilation >1 cm have shown a significant decrease in PTB and improvement in neonatal outcomes.

[Clinical study of modified Shirodkar transvaginal cervical cerclage during pregnancy in the treatment of cervical insufficiency]

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of modified Shirodkar transvaginal cervical cerclage (TVCC) in the treatment of cervical insufficiency (CI) and its impact on maternal and fetal outcomes. Methods: The clinical data of 218 pregnant women with CI admitted to Fu Xing Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 1, 2015 to August 31, 2021 was retrospectively analyzed. According to different surgical approaches, they were divided into modified Shirodkar TVCC treatment during pregnancy (TVCC group, 108 cases) and non-pregnant women underwent laparoscopic cervical cerclage (LACC) treatment (LACC group, 110 cases). The clinical data and pregnancy outcomes of the two groups were compared. Furthermore, the two groups of pregnant women were stratified according to cervical length (CL) to explore the effects of the two surgical methods on the pregnancy outcomes of CI women with different CL. Results: (1) Related indicators before and during cerclage: there were no complications such as massive hemorrhage, bladder injury and anesthesia accident in the two groups of pregnant women during cerclage. Compared with the LACC group, TVCC group had longer preoperative CL [(2.3±0.6) vs (2.7±0.6) cm], more intraoperative blood loss [(7.5±0.5) vs (14.4±1.4) ml] and longer hospital stay [(6.0±0.1) vs (7.3±0.4) day]. However, the operation time was shorter [(42.9±1.6) vs (25.9±1.4) minute] and the hospitalization cost was less [(9 912±120) vs (5 598±140) yuan], and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). (2) Pregnancy outcomes: live birth rates were 95.4% (103/108) in the TVCC group and 96.4% (106/110) in the LACC group, showing no significant difference between the two groups (χ2=2.211, P=0.232). The preterm birth rate (12.0%, 13/108) in the TVCC group was higher than that in the LACC group (7.3%, 8/110), the neonatal birth weight was lower than that in the LACC group [(3 006±96) vs (3 225±42) g], and the proportion of low birth weight infants was higher than that in the LACC group [15.5% (16/103) vs 1.9% (2/106)], and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). (3) Stratified analysis of CL: for pregnant women with CL<2.0 cm, the miscarriage rate of the TVCC group was higher than that of the LACC group (2/9 vs 3.0%), and the live birth rate was lower than that of the LACC group (7/9 vs 97.0%), and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). For CL 2.0-<2.5 cm, 2.5-<3.0 cm, CL≥3.0 cm, there were no statistically significant differences in preterm birth rate and live birth rate between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions: Modified Shirodkar TVCC is simple and easy to operate, which significantly reduces the cesarean section rate and medical cost compared with LACC, and there is no significant difference in the live birth rate. When there is inevitable late abortion, laparoscopic cerclage removal does not need to be performed again, which could reduce the second operation and is worthy of clinical application.

A cross-sectional survey of women's views and preferences for preterm birth screening and treatment

OBJECTIVES

Primary outcomes were to determine; 1) the desire for more patient information from healthcare professionals on preterm birth (PTB) prevention 2) the desire for PTB screening surveillance or participation in research or 3) the acceptability of transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) or vaginal examinations to predict spontaneous PTB.

METHODS

A 19-question, piloted, self-administered survey was completed by unselected pregnant women in a tertiary maternity hospital in Dublin, Ireland. Data was collected to include maternal socio-demographics, past obstetric history, and current pregnancy details, in addition to views and preferences on PTB screening and preventative treatments. Statistical analysis to include binary and multinomial regression was performed by IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows (Version 29.0).

RESULTS

277 women completed the study survey. 9.4% of women had attended the preterm birth surveillance clinic (PSC). 75.1% of respondents indicated a preference for more information from healthcare professionals about PTB. 65% reported that TVUS and vaginal examinations were acceptable in pregnancy. The acceptability of antenatal examinations was significantly influenced by ethnicity; white European (OR 2.58, CI 1.12-5.95, p = 0.003) and Asian (OR 3.39, CI 1.18-9.67, p = 0.02). Discomfort (25.3%) and vaginal bleeding (11.9%) were the most frequently reported concerns about TVUS. 95.7% of unselected women indicated that they would accept treatment to prevent PTB. Vaginal progesterone (53.8%) was preferred treatment compared to cervical cerclage (15.9%) or cervical pessary (16.6%). 55.6% of respondents stated they attend or wish to attend for additional appointments or research opportunities for PTB screening. Women with a previous PTB or second trimester miscarriage were more likely to attend or wish to attend for PTB screening (OR 3.23, CI 1.34-7.79, p = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

PTB is an important healthcare priority for pregnant women in Ireland. However, women require more information, counselling and reassurance about the utility and safety of TVUS in PSCs.

Changes in cervical elastography, cervical length and endocervical canal width after cerclage for cervical insufficiency: an observational ultrasound study

BACKGROUND

We previously demonstrated that pregnant women with a history of cervical insufficiency had a softer anterior cervical lip, shorter cervical length and wider endocervical canal in the first trimester. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in cervical elastography, cervical length, and endocervical canal width in the second trimester after cerclage, and further discuss whether these ultrasound parameters are predictive of preterm delivery.

METHODS

This was a secondary analysis of cervical changes in singleton pregnancies after cerclage from January 2016 to June 2018. Cervical elastography, cervical length, and endocervical canal width were measured during the second trimester in the cervical insufficiency group and control group without cervical insufficiency. Strain elastography under transvaginal ultrasound was used to assess cervical stiffness and presented as percentage (strain rate).

RESULTS

Among the 339 pregnant women enrolled, 24 had a history of cervical insufficiency and underwent cerclage. Both anterior and posterior cervical lips were significantly softer in the cervical insufficiency group even though they received cerclage (anterior strain rate: 0.18 ± 0.06% vs. 0.13 ± 0.04%; P = 0.001; posterior strain rate: 0.11 ± 0.03% vs. 0.09 ± 0.04%; P = 0.017). Cervical length was also shorter in the cervical insufficiency group (36.3 ± 3.6 mm vs. 38.3 ± 4.6 mm; P = 0.047). However, there was no significant difference in endocervical canal width between the two groups (5.4 ± 0.7 mm vs. 5.6 ± 0.7 mm; P = 0.159). Multivariate logistic regression analysis also revealed significant differences in anterior cervical lip strain rate (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 7.32, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.70-31.41; P = 0.007), posterior cervical lip strain rate (adjusted OR, 5.22, 95% CI, 1.42-19.18; P = 0.013), and cervical length (adjusted OR, 3.17, 95% CI,1.08-9.29; P = 0.035). Among the four ultrasound parameters, softer anterior cervical lip (P = 0.024) and shorter cervical length (P < 0.001) were significantly related to preterm delivery.

CONCLUSIONS

Cervical cerclage can prevent widening of the endocervical canal, but not improve cervical elasticity or cervical length. Measuring anterior cervical elastography and cervical length may be valuable to predict preterm delivery.

Predictive value of serum inflammatory markers for histological chorioamnionitis among women with preterm premature rupture of membranes after undergoing cervical cerclage

PURPOSE

To determine the predictive value of maternal White Blood Cells (WBC), neutrophils, and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) for diagnosing Histological Chorioamnionitis (HCA) among women with Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM) who underwent cervical cerclage.

METHODS

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among women with singleton pregnancy and PPROM, who underwent cervical cerclage during 2018-2020.

RESULTS

A total of 55 eligible women were included in the final analysis, including 36 (61.02%) cases with HCA and 19 (38.98%) without HCA. Women with HCA had higher WBC count (12.31 ± 2.80) × 109/L and neutrophil count (9.67 ± 2.90)×109/L than those without HCA (10.35 ± 2.53) × 109/L and 7.82 ± 2.82 × 109/L, respectively) (both p < 0.05). The cut-off value of WBC count at 10.15×109/L was found to be the most effective in identifying HCA, with an Area Under Curve (AUC) of 0.707 (95% CI: 0.56-0.86; p = 0.012), sensitivity of 86.11%, specificity of 57.90%, Positive Predictive Value (PPV) of 79.49%, Negative Predictive Value (NPV) of 68.75%, and Youden index of 0.44. The combination of WBC + neutrophil had a slightly higher (AUC = 0.711, 95% CI: 0.57-0.86; p = 0.011), specificity (68.42%), and PPV (81.25%), but lower sensitivity (72.22%), than the WBC count alone. A cut-off value of neutrophil at 7.46 × 109/L was effective in identifying HCA, with an AUC of 0.689 (95% CI: 0.53-0.84; p = 0.022).

DISCUSSION

Combination use of WBC+neutrophil was found to be the most accurate predictor of HCA among women with PPROM after surgery of cervical cerclage.

The use of cervical cerclage in asymptomatic twin pregnancies with cervical shortening or dilation: a twelve-year retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

To identify the effect and optimal time of cervical cerclage in asymptomatic twin pregnancies with cervical shortening or dilation.

METHODS

This observational retrospective study enrolled all women with asymptomatic twin pregnancies who were diagnosed with asymptomatic cervical shortening or dilation at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between 2010 and 2022. Women included were allocated into the cerclage group (n = 36) and the no cerclage group (n = 22). The cerclage group was further divided into the cerclage group (< 24 weeks group) and the cerclage group (24-28 weeks group) according to the time of cerclage. The no cerclage group was further divided into no cerclage group (< 24 weeks group) and no cerclage group (24-28 weeks group) according to the time of ultrasound-indicated or physical exam indicated cerclage. The rates of PTB < 24, 28, 32 and 34 weeks of gestation, maternal and neonatal outcomes were compared among the groups.

RESULTS

The gestational age (GA) at delivery was higher (P = 0.005) and the interval time between the presentation of the indicated cerclage and delivery was longer in the cerclage group (P < 0.001). The rates of PTB before 28, 32, and 34 weeks of gestation, caesarean section and stillbirth were lower in the cerclage group (P < 0.05). The birthweight of the twins was higher in the cerclage group (P = 0.012). Admissions to the NICU were more frequent in pregnancies with no cerclage (P = 0.008). Subgroup analysis showed that the interval time between the presentation and delivery was longer in the cerclage group (< 24 weeks) (P < 0.001). The GA at delivery and the birthweight of the twins were significantly higher in the cerclage group (< 24 weeks) (P < 0.001). No differences were found in the GA at presentation, the GA at delivery, the interval time between the presentation to delivery and birthweight between the cerclage group (24-28 weeks group) and the control group (24-28 weeks group) (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Cerclage appears to prolong the GA at delivery and the interval time between the presentation to delivery, and may reduce the incidence of PTB before 28, 32 and 34 weeks of gestation and adverse perinatal outcomes in asymptomatic twin pregnancies with cervical shortening or dilation. Cerclage before 24 weeks of gestation showed longer GA at delivery, longer interval time between the presentation to delivery and higher birthweight of the twins. The GA at presentation, the GA at delivery, the interval time between the presentation to delivery and birthweight in women with cerclage at 24-28 weeks were similar to those in women without cerclage at 24-28 weeks.

[Analysis of clinical effect and influencing factors of history-indicated cerclage or ultrasound-indicated cerclage in singleton pregnancy]

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect and the influencing factors of ultrasound-indicated cerclage and history-indicated cerclage in singleton gestation. Methods: The clinical data of 272 singleton pregnant women with cervical incompetence who underwent McDonald cervical cerclage due to medical history indication (history-indicated group) or ultrasound indication (ultrasound-indicated group) in Peking University First Hospital from January 2010 to February 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The general clinical data and maternal and fetal outcomes were compared between the history-indicated group (141 cases) and ultrasound-indicated group (131 cases). According to the gestational age at delivery, 272 pregnant women who underwent cervical cerclage were further divided into ≥34 weeks group (225 cases) and <34 weeks group (47 cases), and the influencing factors of preterm birth before 34 weeks of gestation were analyzed. Results: (1) The median gestational age at cerclage was 16.6 weeks in the history-indicated group and 23.4 weeks in the ultrasound-indicated group, and the median gestational age extension at delivery was 21.4 weeks and 14.7 weeks, respectively, with statistically significant differences between the two groups (all P<0.05). (2) The full-term birth rate was 76.6% (108/141) in the history-indicated group and 71.0% (93/131) in the ultrasound-indicated group, the live birth rate was 97.2% (137/141) and 97.7% (128/131), and the median birth weight of live birth was 3 155 g and 3 055 g, respectively. The differences were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). Among 272 pregnant women with cervical cerclage, 265 neonates survived (97.4%, 265/272). The gestational age of 7 pregnant women who did not have live birth was ≤25 weeks of gestation (range: 19+1-25 weeks), and they were all clinically infected or confirmed chorioamnionitis or pathogenic microorganisms carrying during pregnancy, and their families gave up. The minimum birth weight of the surviving neonate was 850 g (gestational week of delivery was 26+6 weeks). (3) Univariate analysis showed that compared with ≥34 weeks group, the body mass index (BMI) of pregnant women in <34 weeks group was higher at 6-7 weeks of gestation (median: 24.5 vs 25.4 kg/m2), shorter cervical length (CL) at 1-2 weeks after surgery [(31.1±8.4) vs (26.1±11.0) mm], shorter CL at 26-28 weeks of gestation after surgery (median: 26.3 vs 16.0 mm), and higher incidence of elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) before and after surgery and before delivery. The differences were all statistically significant (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that preterm birth before 34 weeks was negatively associated with CL at 26-28 weeks of gestation after cerclage (OR=0.902, 95%CI: 0.858-0.947; P<0.001), and was positively correlated with elevated CRP before delivery (OR=3.492, 95%CI: 1.652-7.381; P=0.001). There were no significant correlations between preterm birth and preoperative or postoperative CRP elevation, CL at 1-2 weeks after surgery, and BMI at 6-7 weeks of gestation (all P>0.05). Conclusions: Cervical cerclage for singleton pregnant women with cervical incompetence indicated by history or ultrasound both have good clinical efficacy, and there is no significant difference in maternal and fetal outcomes between the two groups. CL at 26-28 weeks of gestation and CRP before delivery are risk factors for preterm birth before 34 weeks of gestation after cervical cerclage.

Uterocervical angle versus cervical length in the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth in women with history of spontaneous preterm birth: a prospective observational study

BACKGROUND

Preterm delivery is a leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. History of spontaneous preterm birth is the greatest risk factor for another preterm delivery. So, every effort should be made to prevent the recurrence of preterm delivery in this vulnerable group. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive ability of the anterior uterocervical angle and cervical length in preterm birth.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study that included 70 patients with a history of spontaneous preterm birth. Ultrasound measurements of cervical length and anterior uterocervical angle were set to be measured for each patient at three visits; first between 16 0/7 and 24 0/7 weeks, second between 24 1/7 and 32 0/7 weeks, and the third was between 32 1/7 and 36 6/7 weeks. The correlation between both measures and the prediction of preterm birth among study participants was the primary outcome of the study. Neonatal outcome among the study patients was a secondary measure of outcome.

RESULTS

The incidence of preterm birth among study participants was 31.41%. Cervical length and uterocervical angle showed progressive decrease and increase respectively throughout pregnancy. At the 2nd visit, the two measures were significantly different between those who delivered at term and those with preterm delivery with the cervical length being significantly shorter in the preterm arm (3.0 ± 0.49 versus 3.38 ± 0.36, p < 0.001) and uterocervical angle being significantly bigger among the same arm (110.1 ± 18.48 versus 84.42 ± 12.24, p < 0.001). A uterocervical angle > 89.8° at the second visit predicted preterm birth with 81.8% sensitivity and 70.8% specificity while cervical length ≤ 3.22 cm at the second visit predicted preterm birth with 68.1% sensitivity and 62.5% specificity. Multivariant logistic regression analysis showed that uterocervical angle > 89.8° at the second visit increased the odds ratio for preterm birth by 9.

CONCLUSION

Uterocervical angle can be a useful ultrasound marker for the prediction of preterm birth among high risk patients. A cutoff value of 89.8° can be used as a threshold above which prophylactic measures such as cervical cerclage or progesterone therapy can be provided.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT05632003 (First posted date: 30/11/2022).

Removal versus retention of cervical cerclage with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes: Systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate maternal and perinatal outcomes of removal versus retention of cervical cerclage after premature preterm rupture of membranes (pPROM).

STUDY DESIGN

Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched electronically on February 2023 utilizing combinations of the relevant medical subject heading (MeSH) terms, keywords, and word variants that were considered suitable for the topic. Either prospective or retrospective trials were considered suitable for the inclusion. The coprimary outcome of this study were pregnancy latency >7 days from pPROM and pregnancy latency >48 h from pPROM. Random effect head to-head meta-analyses were performed to directly compare each outcome, expressing the results as summary odds ratio (OR) for dichotomous outcomes and as mean difference (MD) for continuous outcomes, plus relative 95% confidence interval (CI). Quality assessment of the included studies was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

RESULTS

Six studies involving a total of 377 women (169 in the "removal" and 208 in the "retention" group) were included. The rate of pregnancy prolongation >48 h was significantly lower in the removal compared to retention group (OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.07-0.31; p < 0.0001), as well as the rate of pregnancy prolongation >7 days (OR 0.30 95% CI 0.11-0.83; p = 0.02) and pregnancy latency expressed in days (MD -2.84 days, 95% CI -5.40 to -0.29; p = 0.03). The rate of chorioamnionitis was significantly lower in the removal compared to the retention group (OR 0.57 95% CI 0.34-0.96p = 0.03) as was the rate of Apgar score < 7 at 5 min (OR 0.22 95% CI 0.08-0.56; p = 0.002). There was no difference between removal and retention groups for all the other maternal and perinatal outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The decision whether to remove or retain cerclage in case of pPROM should balance the prematurity-related risks with that of infectious complications, thus highlighting the need for tailored management based on gestational age at occurrence of pPROM.

Short cervix and preterm birth in the top end

BACKGROUND

Reducing rates of preterm birth (PTB) remains a significant challenge. The Northern Territory (NT) records some of the highest rates of PTB in the country, especially in First Nations women. In 2014, a Western Australian (WA) preterm birth prevention initiative involved the implementation of seven key initiatives. One of these was routine mid-trimester cervical length measurement. The initiative successfully reduced PTB rates following its first year of implementation. This was the first successful reduction in PTB, including the earlier gestational ages, across a population.

AIMS

To assess the uptake of routine cervical length measurement in the Top End of the NT after the success of the WA PTB prevention initiative and assess if treatment of a short cervix improved PTB rates.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of all women who received antenatal care and delivered their baby at the NT's only tertiary hospital was performed. Mid-trimester ultrasound scan data were collected from two separate time windows, before and after the implementation of the WA intervention. Treatments and gestational age at birth were recorded.

RESULTS

Adoption of routine screening of cervical length measurement at mid-trimester ultrasound in the NT was successful, increasing from 4 to 88%. Detection rates of short cervix doubled. However, there was no difference to PTB rates despite targeted management.

CONCLUSION

PTB remains a significant challenge in the NT, especially for First Nations women who are found to have a short cervix more commonly than non-Indigenous women in the Top End.

Cervical cerclage for prevention of preterm birth and adverse perinatal outcome in twin pregnancies with short cervical length or cervical dilatation: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The optimal approach to prevent preterm birth (PTB) in twins has not been fully established yet. Recent evidence suggests that placement of cervical cerclage in twin pregnancies with short cervical length at ultrasound or cervical dilatation at physical examination might be associated with a reduced risk of PTB. However, such evidence is based mainly on small studies thus questioning the robustness of these findings. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the role of cervical cerclage in preventing PTB and adverse maternal or perinatal outcomes in twin pregnancies.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

Key databases searched and date of last search: MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL were searched electronically on 20 April 2023. Eligibility criteria: Inclusion criteria were observational studies assessing the risk of PTB among twin pregnancies undergoing cerclage versus no cerclage and randomized trials in which twin pregnancies were allocated to cerclage for the prevention of PTB or to a control group (e.g., placebo or treatment as usual). The primary outcome was PTB <34 weeks of gestation. The secondary outcomes were PTB <37, 32, 28, 24 weeks of gestation, gestational age at birth, the interval between diagnosis and birth, preterm prelabor rupture of the membranes (pPROM), chorioamnionitis, perinatal loss, and perinatal morbidity. Subgroup analyses according to the indication for cerclage (short cervical length or cervical dilatation) were also performed. Risk of bias assessment: The risk of bias of the included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was assessed using the Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials, while that of the observational studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS). Statistical analysis: Summary risk ratios (RRs) of the likelihood of detecting each categorical outcome in exposed versus unexposed women, and (b) summary mean differences (MDs) between exposed and unexposed women (for each continuous outcome), with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed using head-to-head meta-analyses. Synthesis of the results: Eighteen studies (1,465 twin pregnancies) were included. Placement of cervical cerclage in women with a twin pregnancy with a short cervix at ultrasound or cervical dilatation at physical examination was associated with a reduced risk of PTB <34 weeks of gestation (RR: 0.73, 95% CI [0.59, 0.91], p = 0.005 corresponding to a 16% difference in the absolute risk, AR), <32 (RR: 0.69, 95% CI [0.57, 0.84], p < 0.001; AR: 16.92%), <28 (RR: 0.54, 95% [CI 0.43, 0.67], 0.001; AR: 18.29%), and <24 (RR: 0.48, 95% CI [0.23, 0.97], p = 0.04; AR: 15.57%) weeks of gestation and a prolonged gestational age at birth (MD: 2.32 weeks, 95% [CI 0.99, 3.66], p < 0.001). Cerclage in twin pregnancy with short cervical length or cervical dilatation was also associated with a reduced risk of perinatal loss (RR: 0.38, 95% CI [0.25, 0.60], p < 0.001; AR: 19.62%) and composite adverse outcome (RR: 0.69, 95% CI [0.53, 0.90], p = 0.007; AR: 11.75%). Cervical cerclage was associated with a reduced risk of PTB <34 weeks both in women with cervical length <15 mm (RR: 0.74, 95% CI [0.58, 0.95], p = 0.02; AR: 29.17%) and in those with cervical dilatation (RR: 0.68, 95% CI [0.57, 0.80], p < 0.001; AR: 35.02%). The association between cerclage and prevention of PTB and adverse perinatal outcomes was exclusively due to the inclusion of observational studies. The quality of retrieved evidence at GRADE assessment was low.

CONCLUSIONS

Emergency cerclage for cervical dilation or short cervical length <15 mm may be potentially associated with a reduction in PTB and improved perinatal outcomes. However, these findings are mainly based upon observational studies and require confirmation in large and adequately powered RCTs.

Cervical cerclage in twin pregnancies: obstetric and neonatal outcomes

BACKGROUND

Although there have been significant improvements in prenatal and neonatal care in recent years, twin pregnancies account for 17-20% of all preterm births and are associated with an increased risk of perinatal mortality and morbidity.

AIMS

To evaluate the contribution of cerclage to the continuation of pregnancy in twin pregnancy cases required cervical cerclage.

METHODS

Cases of twin pregnancies who performed cervical cerclage with follow-up and deliveries between January 2010 and January 2022 in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ege University Faculty of Medicine Hospital, were retrospectively analyzed. Obstetric and neonatal outcomes were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 23 women who performed cervical cerclage due to cervical insufficiency in twin pregnancies were evaluated retrospectively. The mean time between cerclage placement and delivery was 12.1 ± 7 weeks, maximum prolongation was in the obstetric history-indicated cerclage group. The gestational age at delivery was 20-38 (median 30) weeks. The rate of spontaneous preterm birth at < 34, < 32, < 28, and < 24 weeks was higher in the physical examination-indicated cerclage group. Overall neonatal survival was 82.5% (n = 33/40).

CONCLUSION

The time between cerclage placement and birth were considered as an important gain for twin pregnancies at the limit of viability. Further studies are needed to better understand the role of cervical cerclage in preventing premature birth and to determine the indications for cerclage.

Combined vaginal progesterone and cervical cerclage in the prevention of preterm birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Vaginal progesterone and cervical cerclage are both effective interventions for reducing preterm birth. It is currently unclear whether combined therapy offers superior effectiveness than single therapy. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of combining cervical cerclage and vaginal progesterone in the prevention of preterm birth.

DATA SOURCES

We searched Medline (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Cochrane Library (Wiley), and Scopus (from their inception to 2020).

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The review accepted randomized and pseudorandomized control trials, nonrandomized experimental control trials, and cohort studies. High risk patients (shortened cervical length <25mm or previous preterm birth) who were assigned cervical cerclage, vaginal progesterone, or both for the prevention of preterm birth were included. Only singleton pregnancies were assessed.

METHODS

The primary outcome was birth <37 weeks. Secondary outcomes included birth <28 weeks, <32 weeks and <34 weeks, gestational age at delivery, days between intervention and delivery, preterm premature rupture of membranes, cesarean delivery, neonatal mortality, neonatal intensive care unit admission, intubation, and birthweight. Following title and full-text screening, 11 studies were included in the final analysis. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool for assessing the risk of bias (ROBINS-I and RoB-2). Quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations) tool.

RESULTS

Combined therapy was associated with lower risk of preterm birth at <37 weeks than cerclage alone (risk ratio, 0.51; 95% confidence interval, 0.37-0.79) or progesterone alone (risk ratio, 0.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.58-0.96). Compared with cerclage only, combined therapy was associated with preterm birth at <34 weeks, <32 weeks, or <28 weeks, decreased neonatal mortality, increased birthweight, increased gestational age, and a longer interval between intervention and delivery. Compared with progesterone alone, combined therapy was associated with preterm birth at <32 weeks, <28 weeks, decreased neonatal mortality, increased birthweight, and increased gestational age. There were no differences in any other secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Combined treatment of cervical cerclage and vaginal progesterone could potentially result in a greater reduction in preterm birth than in single therapy. Further, well-conducted and adequately powered randomized controlled trials are needed to assess these promising findings.

Immune-checkpoint proteins, cytokines, and microbiome impact on patients with cervical insufficiency and preterm birth

Background

Microenvironmental factors, including microbe-induced inflammation and immune-checkpoint proteins that modulate immune cells have been associated with both cervical insufficiency and preterm delivery. These factors are incompletely understood. This study aimed to explore and compare interactions among microbiome and inflammatory factors, such as cytokines and immune-checkpoint proteins, in patients with cervical insufficiency and preterm birth. In particular, factors related to predicting preterm birth were identified and the performance of the combination of these factors was evaluated.

Methods

A total of 220 swab samples from 110 pregnant women, prospectively recruited at the High-Risk Maternal Neonatal Intensive Care Center, were collected between February 2020 and March 2021. This study included 63 patients with cervical insufficiency receiving cerclage and 47 control participants. Endo- and exocervical swabs and fluids were collected simultaneously. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing for the microbiome and the measurement of 34 immune-checkpoint proteins and inflammatory cytokines were performed.

Results

First, we demonstrated that immune-checkpoint proteins, the key immune-regulatory molecules, could be measured in endocervical and exocervical samples. Secondly, we identified significantly different microenvironments in cervical insufficiency and preterm birth, with precise cervical locations, to provide information about practically useful cervical locations in clinical settings. Finally, the presence of Moraxella osloensis (odds ratio = 14.785; P = 0.037) and chemokine CC motif ligand 2 levels higher than 73 pg/mL (odds ratio = 40.049; P = 0.005) in endocervical samples were associated with preterm birth. Combining M. osloensis and chemokine CC motif ligand 2 yielded excellent performance for predicting preterm birth (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.846, 95% confidence interval = 0.733-0.925).

Conclusion

Multiple relationships between microbiomes, immune-checkpoint proteins, and inflammatory cytokines in the cervical microenvironment were identified. We focus on these factors to aid in the comprehensive understanding and therapeutic modulation of local microbial and immunologic compositions for the management of cervical insufficiency and preterm birth.

Twenty years of experience with less radical fertility-sparing surgery in early-stage cervical cancer: Pregnancy outcomes

INTRODUCTION

The standard procedure in cervical cancer is radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLND). Because of the increasing age of women bearing children, fertility has become a major challenge. We present pregnancy results after less radical fertility-sparing surgery in women with IA1, LVSI positive, IA2 and IB1 (<2 cm, infiltration less than half of the cervical stroma).

MATERIALS AND METHOD

All women (n = 91) underwent laparoscopic sentinel lymph node mapping with frozen section followed by PLND and "selective parametrectomy" (removal of afferent lymphatic channels from the paracervix) if sentinel nodes (SLN) are negative. If lymph nodes were verified negative by definitive histopathology, patients were treated by simple trachelectomy (IB1) or large cone (IA1/IA2) biopsy 1 week after primary surgery.

RESULTS

From 1999 to 2018, 91 women were enrolled in the study (median age 29.1 years, range 21-40). Fertility was spared in 76 (83.5%) women; 13 (17.1%) women did not plan future pregnancy and 63 (82.9%) had pregnancy desires. Fifty-four of 63 women conceived (pregnancy rate 85.7%) and 48 of 63 delivered 58 babies (delivery rate 76.2%). Thirty-nine women delivered in term (67.2%): 13 women between 32 and 36 + 6 weeks of pregnancy, 3 between 28 and 31 + 6 weeks and 3 between 24 and 27 + 6 weeks. Only one woman still plans pregnancy. One woman is currently pregnant.

CONCLUSION

The goal of fertility-sparing surgery is to produce good oncological results and promising pregnancy outcomes. Pregnancy results after less radical fertility-sparing procedures show promise (pregnancy rate 82.9% and delivery rate 76.2%).

Predicting spontaneous preterm birth in asymptomatic high-risk women with cervical cerclage

OBJECTIVE

To determine the performance of the predictive markers of spontaneous preterm birth, cervicovaginal quantitative fetal fibronectin (fFN) and cervical length, in asymptomatic high-risk women with transabdominal, history-indicated or ultrasound-indicated cervical cerclage.

METHODS

This was a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort of asymptomatic high-risk women with cervical cerclage and no other prophylactic intervention (including progesterone), who attended the preterm birth clinic at a central London teaching hospital between October 2010 and September 2016. Women had either transabdominal cerclage, placed prior to conception, history-indicated cerclage, placed before 14 weeks' gestation, or ultrasound-indicated cerclage for a short cervix (< 25 mm), placed before 24 weeks. All women underwent serial cervical length assessment on transvaginal ultrasound in the second trimester (16-28 weeks), and quantitative fFN testing from 18 weeks onward. Test performance was analyzed for the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth before 30 weeks (cerclage failure), 34 weeks and 37 weeks, using receiver-operating-characteristics (ROC)-curve analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, 181 women were included in the analysis. Cervical length and fFN were strong predictors of spontaneous preterm birth before 30 weeks in women with cerclage, with areas under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.86 (95% CI, 0.79-0.94) and 0.84 (95% CI, 0.75-0.92), respectively. Cervical length was a better predictor of preterm birth before 30 weeks in women with history-indicated compared to those with ultrasound-indicated cerclage, although both showed clinical utility (AUC, 0.96 (95% CI, 0.91-1.00) vs 0.79 (95% CI, 0.66-0.91); P = 0.01). Quantitative fFN was a strong predictor of spontaneous preterm birth before 30 weeks in women with history-indicated cerclage (AUC, 0.91 (95% CI, 0.75-1.00)) and retained clinical utility in those with ultrasound-indicated cerclage (AUC, 0.76 (95% CI, 0.64-0.89)). There were no spontaneous deliveries before 34 weeks in women with a transabdominal cerclage, so AUC was not calculated. Delivery was delayed significantly in this group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Cervical length and quantitative fFN retain clinical utility for the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth in women with cervical cerclage, and prediction is best in women with a history-indicated stitch. These tests can be relied upon to discriminate risk and have utility when planning clinical management with regard to treatment failure. © 2023 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Cervical cerclage training: Development and assessment of a simulator

BACKGROUND

Cervical cerclage is a mainstay intervention for the prevention of spontaneous preterm birth in high-risk women. Simulation training facilitates high-level skill transfer in a low-consequence environment, and is being integrated into obstetrics and gynecology training.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to develop a simulator for cervical cerclage, determine its validity as a simulator, and identify parameters suitable as proxy markers for performance.

STUDY DESIGN

The 3 aims of this study were achieved, namely: (1) simulator design by obstetricians and a commercial company; (2) survey of obstetricians and gynecologists across a variety of training stages to determine need for and opinion of the simulator; and (3) comparison of novice and expert groups across a variety of proxy markers for successful cerclage insertion.

RESULTS

Obstetricians and gynecologists found the simulator to be similar to clinical scenarios and suitable for skill training. Novice participants stated that the use of the simulator improved their confidence (P=.016). In a comparison between 6 expert and 8 novice surgeons, there seemed to be variations across multiple measurements of cerclage placement.

CONCLUSION

Simulation is an increasingly prominent training modality for surgical skills. The simulator described herein was considered suitable for training by obstetricians and gynecologists. Further work should focus on the validations of proxy markers of successful insertion, longitudinal assessment of trainees, and correlation of training outcomes with clinical outcomes.

Incidentally Found Midtrimester Shortened Cervical Length: Practice Patterns among American Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialists

OBJECTIVE

The management of incidentally found short cervical length (CL) without prior spontaneous preterm birth (PTB) can vary. While most agree on starting vaginal progesterone, management after CL shortens <10 mm varies. The purpose of this study was to elucidate current practice patterns amongst maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialists.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted an online survey of MFM attending physicians and fellows in the United States from May 2019 to April 2020. The primary outcome was management of varying CL based on gestational age. Variations in management were assessed descriptively.

RESULTS

There were 236 respondents out of 400 eligible surveyed, with a response rate of 59.2%. Universal CL screening was reported by 93.6% (49.6% abdominal and 44.1% transvaginal). Management of short CL varied based on CL measurement, rather than gestational age at presentation. At CL <10 mm, management included cerclage (17.4-18.7%), vaginal progesterone (41.3-41.7%), or cerclage plus vaginal progesterone (43.4%). Between CL of 10 to 20 mm, the majority (77.4-91.9%) would start vaginal progesterone. At CL 21 to 25 mm, management varied between expectant management (45.5-48.5%) or vaginal progesterone (51.1-52.8%). Suture material used was ethylene terephthalate (47.4%) or polypropelene (31.2). Preoperative antibiotic use was reported by 22.3%, while 45.5% used them only if the amniotic membranes were exposed, and 32.2% reported no antibiotic use. Postoperative tocolytic use varied with 19.3% reporting no use, 32.6% using it always, 8.2% only after significant cervical manipulation, 22.7% after the patient is experiencing symptoms, and 17.6% using it only if the cervix is dilated on exam. After cerclage placement, 44.5% continued CL surveillance.

CONCLUSION

Substantial differences of opinion exist among MFM physicians regarding management of incidentally found short CL in patients without history of PTB. The differences in responses obtained highlight the need for evidence-based guidelines for managing this clinical scenario.

KEY POINTS

· There is lack of consensus on the management of incidentally found shortened CL.. · The purpose of this study was to elucidate current trends in CL screening and management.. · Substantial differences of opinion exist regarding management of incidentally found short CL..

Effects of emergency/nonemergency cervical cerclage on the vaginal microbiome of pregnant women with cervical incompetence

Background

Evaluation of the therapeutic effects of cerclage on preterm birth (PTB) caused by cervical incompetence remains challenging. The vaginal microbiome is associated with preterm births. Thus, this study aimed to analyse the vaginal microbiota of patients with cervical incompetence, explore the relationship between the composition of the vaginal microbiota before cervical cerclage and at term delivery, and assess the effect of cervical cerclage on the vaginal microbiota.

Methods

Patients (n = 30) underwent cerclage performed by the same surgical team. Vaginal swabs were obtained pre-surgery and seven days post-surgery. A gestational age-matched cohort of healthy pregnant women (n = 20) (no particular abnormality during pregnancy, delivery at term) was used as the control group and sampled during a comparable pregnancy. All collected vaginal swabs were analysed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Results

When comparing the healthy control and cervical cerclage groups, the enriched microorganism in the healthy controls was G. Scardovia, and the enriched microorganism of the cerclage was G. Streptococcus. α diversity was significantly increased in patients who received cerclage with preterm delivery compared with those with full-term delivery, and the enriched microorganism was F. Enterococcus. A comparison before and after nonemergency cerclage suggested that the enriched microorganisms were G. Lactobacillus and F. Lactobacillaceae before surgery. After nonemergency cerclage, the enriched microorganisms were F. Enterobacteriaceae and C. Gammaproteobacteria. Vaginal microbiota diversity significantly increased, and the proportion of women with Lactobacillus spp.-depleted microbiomes increased after emergency cerclage. Significant differences in β diversity were found between the groups. Before the emergency cerclage, the enriched microorganisms were G. Lactobacillus, O. Alteromonadales, and P. Firmicutes. After emergency cerclage, the enriched microorganisms were P. Actinobacteria, C. Actinobacteria, P. Proteobacteria, F. Bifidobacteriaceae, O. Bifidobacteriales, G. Gardnerella, and G. Veillonella.

Conclusion

Cerclage (particularly emergency cerclage) may alter the vaginal microbiota by increasing microbiota diversity, decreasing vaginal Lactobacillus abundance, and increasing the abundance of pathogenic bacteria that are not conducive to pregnancy maintenance, thereby affecting surgical efficacy. Therefore, the role of the vaginal microbiome should be considered when developing treatment strategies for pregnant women with cervical incompetence.

Clinical trial registration

https://www.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR2100046305.

Cervical pessary for preventing preterm birth in singleton pregnancies

BACKGROUND

Preterm birth (PTB), defined as birth prior to 37 weeks of gestation, occurs in ten percent of all pregnancies. PTB is responsible for more than half of neonatal and infant mortalities and morbidities. Because cervical insufficiency is a common cause of PTB, one possible preventive strategy involves insertion of a cervical pessary to support the cervix. Several published studies have compared the use of pessary with different management options and obtained questionable results. This highlights the need for an up-to-date systematic review of the evidence.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the benefits and harms of cervical pessary for preventing preterm birth in women with singleton pregnancies and risk factors for cervical insufficiency compared to no treatment, vaginal progesterone, cervical cerclage or bedrest.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth's Trials Register, ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform to 22 September 2021. We also searched the reference lists of included studies for additional records.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included published and unpublished randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing cervical pessary with no treatment, vaginal progesterone, cervical cerclage or bedrest for preventing PTB. We excluded quasi-randomised trials. Our primary outcome was delivery before 34 weeks' gestation. Our secondary outcomes were 1. delivery before 37 weeks' gestation, 2. maternal mortality, 3. maternal infection or inflammation, 4. preterm prelabour rupture of membranes, 5. harm to woman from the intervention, 6. maternal medications, 7. discontinuation of the intervention, 8. maternal satisfaction, 9. neonatal/paediatric care unit admission, 10. fetal/infant mortality, 11. neonatal sepsis, 12. gestational age at birth, 13. harm to offspring from the intervention 14. birthweight, 15. early neurodevelopmental morbidity, 15. late neurodevelopmental morbidity, 16. gastrointestinal morbidity and 17. respiratory morbidity.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently assessed trials for eligibility and risk of bias, evaluated trustworthiness based on criteria developed by the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Review Group, extracted data, checked for accuracy and assessed certainty of evidence using the GRADE approach.

MAIN RESULTS

We included eight RCTs (2983 participants). We included five RCTs (1830 women) in the comparison cervical pessary versus no treatment, three RCTs (1126 pregnant women) in the comparison cervical pessary versus vaginal progesterone, and one study (13 participants) in the comparison cervical pessary versus cervical cerclage. Overall, the certainty of evidence was low to moderate due to inconsistency (statistical heterogeneity), imprecision (few events and wide 95% confidence intervals (CIs) consistent with possible benefit and harm), and risk of performance and detection bias. Cervical pessary versus no treatment Cervical pessary compared with no treatment may reduce the risk of delivery before 34 weeks (risk ratio (RR) 0.72, 95% CI 0.33 to 1.55; 5 studies, 1830 women; low-certainty evidence) or before 37 weeks (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.44 to 1.05; 5 studies, 1830 women; low-certainty evidence). However, these results should be viewed with caution because the 95% CIs cross the line of no effect. Cervical pessary compared with no treatment probably has little or no effect on the risk of maternal infection or inflammation (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.26; 2 studies, 1032 women; moderate-certainty evidence). It is unclear if cervical pessary compared with no treatment has an effect on neonatal/paediatric care unit admission (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.58 to 1.59; 3 studies, 1332 infants; low-certainty evidence) or fetal/neonatal mortality (RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.58 to 1.48; 5 studies, 1830 infants; low-certainty evidence) because the 95% CIs are compatible with a wide range of effects that encompass both appreciable benefit and harm. Cervical pessary versus vaginal progesterone Cervical pessary may reduce the risk of delivery before 34 weeks (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.52 to 1.02; 3 studies, 1126 women; moderate-certainty evidence) or before 37 weeks (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.09; 3 studies, 1126 women; moderate-certainty evidence), but we are uncertain of the results because the 95% CI crosses the line of no effect. The intervention probably has little or no effect on maternal infection or inflammation (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.12; 2 studies, 265 women; moderate-certainty evidence). It is unclear if cervical pessary compared with vaginal progesterone has an effect on the risk of neonatal/paediatric care unit admission (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.49 to 1.98; low-certainty evidence) or fetal/neonatal mortality (RR 1.97, 95% CI 0.50 to 7.70; 2 studies; 265 infants; low-certainty evidence) because the 95% CIs are compatible with a wide range of effects that encompass both appreciable benefit and harm. Cervical pessary versus cervical cerclage Only one very small study of 13 pregnant women contributed data to this comparison; the results were unclear.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

In women with a singleton pregnancy, cervical pessary compared with no treatment or vaginal progesterone may reduce the risk of delivery before 34 weeks or 37 weeks, although these results should be viewed with caution due to uncertainty around the effect estimates. There is insufficient evidence with regard to the effect of cervical pessary compared with cervical cerclage on PTB. Due to low certainty-evidence in many of the prespecified outcomes and non-reporting of several other outcomes of interest for this review, there is a need for further robust RCTs that use standardised terminology for maternal and offspring outcomes. Future trials should take place in a range of settings to improve generalisability of the evidence. Further research should concentrate on comparisons of cervical pessary versus cervical cerclage and bed rest. Investigation of different phenotypes of PTB may be relevant.

Suprapubic-assisted transurethral excision of eroded transvaginal cerclage suture

AIM OF THE VIDEO/INTRODUCTION

The aim was to demonstrate our minimally invasive technique for excision of eroded transvaginal cervical cerclage suture through the bladder mucosa using a suprapubic-assisted transurethral approach. Transvaginal cervical cerclage is a common treatment for cervical insufficiency in pregnancy. Complications such as erosion are rare, as the duration of treatment is typically several months, with cerclage placement in the second trimester and complete removal prior to the onset of labor. Retained suture can lead to erosion through the vaginal epithelium and into other organs, as seen in our case. Our technique offers a minimally invasive approach to the excision of eroded transvaginal cervical cerclage suture through the bladder mucosa.

METHODS

A narrated, stepwise video demonstration for removal of eroded cervical cerclage through bladder epithelium with suprapubic-assisted transurethral technique in a single patient was carried out. Key strategies for a successful outcome include: use of a Carter-Thomason device for suprapubic assistance in lieu of suprapubic trocar or suprapubic incision, use of rigid biopsy forceps for improved traction on the eroded suture, performing a methylene blue test for evaluation of vesicovaginal fistula after excision procedure.

RESULTS

At her 2-week postoperative evaluation, the patient reported resolution of all symptoms. The Carter-Thomason incision was well healed, and postoperative urinalysis was negative for hematuria.

CONCLUSIONS

A suprapubic-assisted transurethral approach can be used as a minimally invasive technique for excision of eroded transvaginal cervical cerclage suture through the bladder mucosa.

Prediction of emergency cerclage outcomes in women with cervical insufficiency: The role of inflammatory, angiogenic, and extracellular matrix-related proteins in amniotic fluid

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to determine whether various novel inflammatory, angiogenic, and extracellular matrix-related mediators in amniotic fluid (AF) can independently predict emergency cerclage outcomes in women with acute cervical insufficiency (CI).

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study conducted among 50 singleton pregnant women (18-25 weeks) who underwent emergency cerclage for CI and were subjected to amniocentesis. The AF samples were assayed for endoglin, endostatin, haptoglobin, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein (IGFBP)-3, -4, kallistatin, lumican, macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), pentraxin 3, p-selectin, receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), resistin, transforming growth factor beta-induced (TGFBI), and vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP) levels. Interleukin (IL)-6 levels in the AF were also measured for comparison with potential biomarkers assessed in this study. The primary endpoint was spontaneous preterm delivery (SPTD) at <34 weeks following emergency cerclage.

RESULTS

The AF levels of pentraxin 3, RAGE, and resistin were significantly higher in women who had SPTD at <34 weeks after cerclage placement (pentraxin-3: P = 0.003; RAGE: P = 0.041; and resistin; P = 0.002). In multivariate analysis, elevated AF levels of pentraxin 3 (P = 0.007) and resistin (P = 0.006), but not those of RAGE (P = 0.069), were independently associated with the occurrence of SPTD at <34 weeks after cerclage, following adjustment for baseline clinical variables (e.g., cervical dilation). The area under the curve (AUC) values of AF pentraxin 3, RAGE, and resistin for the prediction of SPTD at <34 weeks were 0.749, 0.669, and 0.770, respectively, which were similar to those of AF IL-6. However, in univariate analyses, no differences in the AF levels of endoglin, endostatin, haptoglobin, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-4, kallistatin, lumican, p-selectin, TGFBI, and VDBP were found to be associated with SPTD at <34 weeks after cerclage placement.

CONCLUSIONS

In women with acute CI, the AF levels of pentraxin 3, RAGE, and resistin could be useful novel biomarkers for predicting SPTD following emergency cerclage. However, the clinical utility of these new biomarkers should be validated in larger multicenter studies.

Interventions for the prevention of spontaneous preterm birth: a scoping review of systematic reviews

BACKGROUND

Globally, 11% of babies are born preterm each year. Preterm birth (PTB) is a leading cause of neonatal death and under-five mortality and morbidity, with lifelong sequelae in those who survive. PTB disproportionately impacts low/middle-income countries (LMICs) where the burden is highest.

OBJECTIVES

This scoping review sought to the evidence for interventions that reduce the risk of PTB, focusing on the evidence from LMICs and describing how context is considered in evidence synthesis.

DESIGN

We conducted a scoping review, to describe this wide topic area. We searched five electronic databases (2009-2020) and contacted experts to identify relevant systematic reviews of interventions to reduce the risk of PTB. We included published systematic reviews that examined the effectiveness of interventions and their effect on reducing the risk of PTB. Data were extracted and is described narratively.

RESULTS

139 published systematic reviews were included in the review. Interventions were categorised as primary or secondary. The interventions where the results showed a greater effect size and consistency across review findings included treatment of syphilis and vaginal candidiasis, vitamin D supplementation and cervical cerclage. Included in the 139 reviews were 1372 unique primary source studies. 28% primary studies were undertaken in LMIC contexts and only 4.5% undertaken in a low-income country (LIC) Only 10.8% of the reviews sought to explore the impact of context on findings, and 19.4% reviews did not report the settings or the primary studies.

CONCLUSION

This scoping review highlights the lack of research evidence derived from contexts where the burden of PTB globally is greatest. The lack of rigour in addressing contextual applicability within systematic review methods is also highlighted. This presents a risk of inappropriate and unsafe recommendations for practice within these contexts. It also highlights a need for primary research, developing and testing interventions in LIC settings.

Interventions to prevent preterm delivery in women with short cervix before fetoscopic laser surgery for twin-twin transfusion syndrome

OBJECTIVE

Preoperative short cervical length (CL) remains a major risk factor for preterm birth after laser surgery for twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), but the optimal intervention to prolong pregnancy remains elusive. The objective of this study was to compare secondary methods for the prevention of preterm birth in twin pregnancies with TTTS undergoing fetoscopic laser photocoagulation (FLP), in the setting of a short cervix at the time of FLP, in five North American Fetal Treatment Network (NAFTNet) centers.

METHODS

This was a secondary analysis of data collected prospectively at five NAFTNet centers, conducted from January 2013 to March 2020. Inclusion criteria were a monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy complicated by TTTS, undergoing FLP, with preoperative CL < 30 mm. Management options for a short cervix included expectant management, vaginal progesterone, pessary (Arabin, incontinence or Bioteque cup), cervical cerclage or a combination of two or more treatments. Patients were not included if the intervention was initiated solely on the basis of having a twin gestation rather than at the diagnosis of a short cervix. Demographics, ultrasound characteristics, operative data and outcomes were compared. The primary outcome was FLP-to-delivery interval. Propensity-score matching was performed, with each treatment group matched (1:1) to the expectant-management group for CL, in order to estimate the effect of each treatment on the FLP-to-delivery interval.

RESULTS

A total of 255 women with a twin pregnancy complicated by TTTS and a short cervix undergoing FLP were included in the study. Of these, 151 (59%) were managed expectantly, 32 (13%) had vaginal progesterone only, 21 (8%) had pessary only, 21 (8%) had cervical cerclage only and 30 (12%) had a combination of treatments. A greater proportion of patients in the combined-treatment group had had a prior preterm birth compared with those in the expectant-management group (33% vs 9%; P = 0.01). Mean preoperative CL was shorter in the pessary, cervical-cerclage and combined-treatment groups (14-16 mm) than in the expectant-management and vaginal-progesterone groups (22 mm for both) (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in FLP-to-delivery interval between the groups, nor in gestational age at delivery or the rate of live birth or neonatal survival. Vaginal progesterone was associated with a decrease in the risk of delivery before 28 weeks' gestation compared with cervical cerclage and combined treatment (P = 0.03). Using propensity-score matching for CL, cervical cerclage was associated with a reduction in FLP-to-delivery interval of 13 days, as compared with expectant management.

CONCLUSIONS

A large proportion of pregnancies with TTTS and a short maternal cervix undergoing FLP were managed expectantly for a short cervix, establishing a high (62%) risk of delivery before 32 weeks in this condition. No treatment that significantly improved outcome was identified; however, there were significant differences in potential confounders and there were also likely to be unmeasured confounders. Cervical cerclage should not be offered as a secondary prevention for preterm birth in twin pregnancies with TTTS and a short cervix undergoing FLP. A large randomized controlled trial is urgently needed to determine the effects of treatments for the prevention of preterm birth in these pregnancies. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Frequency of cerclage in consecutive pregnancies of women with history of preterm birth

BACKGROUND

Serial cervical length screening is performed in women with a history of preterm birth to determine indication for cerclage placement. Our aim is to evaluate the frequency of cerclage placement in consecutive pregnancies with preterm birth history to determine whether performing serial cervical length screening for women with a history of late (34-36 6/7 weeks) spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) should be reconsidered.

METHODS

Retrospective evaluation of cerclage frequency and gestational age of delivery for consecutive singleton births for 69,671 women whose first birth was a SPTB.

RESULTS

History of late SPTB was associated with a lower frequency of cerclage than history of early SPTB (0.83% vs 4.88%, OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.14-0.18). Rates of recurrent SPTB were lower for women with history of late SPTB than those with history of early SPTB (13.45%, 3.74% early, 9.71% late vs 20.69%, 9.12% early, 11.57% late).

CONCLUSION

Women with a history of late PTB have a lower risk of recurrent PTB than those with a history of early PTB but constitute most of those undergoing serial cervical length screening for potential cerclage placement. Practice guidelines for screening women with a history of late PTB should be re-evaluated.

Prophylactic Cerclage to Prevent Preterm Birth after Conization: A Cohort Study Using Data from the National Health Insurance Service of Korea

PURPOSE

To investigate potential differences in the frequency of preterm births (PTB) between pregnancies with or without prophylactic cerclage in women with a history of conization.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We identified women who had their first singleton delivery after conization between 2013 and 2018 using records in the National Health Insurance Service of Korea claims database. We only included women who had undergone a health examination and interview within 2 years before delivery. We used timing of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) tests to differentiate early (before) from late (after the MSAFP test) cerclage. The frequency of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including PTB, preterm labor and premature rupture of membranes, antibiotics and tocolytics use, cesarean delivery, and number of admissions before delivery, were compared.

RESULTS

A total of 8322 women was included. Compared to the no cerclage group (n=7147), the risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes were higher in the cerclage group (n=1175). After categorizing patients with cerclage into two groups, the risk of PTB was still higher in the early cerclage group than in the no cerclage group after adjusting for baseline factors (4.48%, 30/669 vs. 2.77%, 159/5749, odds ratio 2.42, 95% confidence interval 1.49, 3.92). Other adverse pregnancy outcomes were also more frequent in the early cerclage group than the no cerclage group.

CONCLUSION

Early cerclage performed before MSAFP testing does not prevent PTB in pregnancy with a history of conization, but increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including PTB.

OBGYN practice patterns regarding combination therapy for prevention of preterm birth: A national survey

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to examine if US obstetrician-gynecologists (OBGYNs) practice outside of evidenced-based guidelines and use a combination of interventions to prevent spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB).

STUDY DESIGN

An electronic survey was distributed to members of the Pregnancy-Related Care Research Network (PRCRN), and also to members of the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM). The survey consisted of questions regarding physician demographics, and the use of interventions to prevent sPTB in women with 1) a prior sPTB, 2) an incidental short cervix (no prior sPTB), and 3) a history of cervical insufficiency.

RESULTS

The PRCRN response rate was 58.6% (283/483) with an additional 143 responses from SMFM members. Among PRCRN responders, 82.7% were general OBGYNs and 17.3% were Maternal-Fetal Medicine subspecialists. Respondents were from all geographic regions of the country; most practiced in a group private practice (42.6%) or academic institution (31.4%). In women with prior sPTB, 45.2% of respondents would consider combination therapy, most commonly weekly intramuscular progesterone (IM-P) and serial cervical length (CL) measurements. If the patient then develops a short cervix, 33.7% would consider adding an ultrasound-indicated cerclage. In women with an incidental short cervix, 66.8% of respondents were likely to recommend single therapy with daily vaginal progesterone (VP). If a patient developed an incidentally dilated cervix, 40.8% of PRCRN respondents would recommend dual therapy, most commonly cerclage + VP, whereas 64.3% of SMFM respondents were likely to continue with VP only. In women with a history of cervical insufficiency, 47% of PRCRN respondents indicated they would consider a combination of IM-P, history-indicated cerclage and serial CL measurements.

CONCLUSION

Although not currently supported by evidence-based medicine, combination therapy is commonly being used by U.S. OBGYNs to prevent sPTB in women with risk factors such as prior sPTB, short or dilated cervix or more than one of these risks.

"Does the use of gestation-specific centiles for cervical length change the management of pregnancies at risk of recurrent spontaneous preterm birth?"

INTRODUCTION

Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Spontaneous Preterm Birth (sPTB) has many and varied causes but is known to be strongly associated with a short or shortening cervix in the midtrimester of pregnancy. The strongest risk factor for sPTB is a previous sPTB. In women with a history of sPTB, we can offer surveillance and treatments which have been proven to reduce the risk of sPTB, such as cervical cerclage and vaginal progesterone supplementation. Alongside other indications, we currently use 25 mm or shorter as a "trigger threshold" for offering cervical cerclage treatment in the Preterm Birth Prevention Clinic at The National Maternity Hospital.

AIM

To determine if using gestation-specific centiles instead of a 25 mm cut-off for cervical length changes the antenatal management of women at high risk of sPTB.

METHOD

This was a retrospective chart review of all women attending the preterm birth clinic over the 2-year period 2018-2020 in a large tertiary referral unit in Dublin, Ireland. Demographic details, obstetric history, preterm birth risk factors and preventative treatments offered were collected and analysed. Cervical lengths were measured with ultrasound using a standardised protocol and all performed or supervised by 2 experienced sonographers.

RESULTS

A total of 200 patients with known risk factors for sPTB attended the Preterm Birth Surveillance Clinic at the National Maternity Hospital during the study period. Of these, 36/200 (18%) went on to deliver again prior to 37 weeks despite attending the clinic +/- receiving interventions & this group are the focus of this paper. The indications for surveillance in this group that had a recurrent sPTB included recurrent second-trimester pregnancy losses/preterm delivery < 34 weeks (26/36 (72%)), cervical trauma (including treatment of CIN) (12/36 (33%)), congenital abnormalities (1/36 (2.8%)), uterine anomaly (1/36 (2.8%)) and placental bleeding (1/36 (2.8%)). There was one smoker in this series. Funnelling was observed in 3/36 cases (8.3%). Of the 36 patients, an additional 15 would have received a cerclage had gestation-specific centiles, i.e., <5th centile, been used and an additional 10/36 (28%) would have been offered progesterone therapy.

CONCLUSION

In those at high risk of preterm birth, the use of gestation-specific centiles for cervical length increases the proportion of patients that would be eligible for cervical cerclage. It is unclear whether this would change clinical outcome.

Effectiveness of combined vaginal progesterone and cervical cerclage in preventing preterm birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

INTRODUCTION

Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of death in children under 5 years. Preventive therapies targeted towards women with risk factors such as a prior PTB or a short cervix reduce the rate of PTB. Cervical cerclage, vaginal progesterone and a combination of the two have been used with no consensus as to whether combined treatment is more effective than any single treatment alone. The objective of this review is to determine the efficacy of combined treatment compared with cerclage alone and combined treatment compared with progesterone alone.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Studies will be sourced from the electronic databases Medline (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), Scopus, CINAHL (EBSCOhost) and Cochrane Library (Wiley) and reference lists. We will not exclude any papers due to publication date. Randomised control trials (RCTs), non-RCTs and cohort studies assessing single therapy (either progesterone or cerclage) versus combined therapy in women with a singleton pregnancy will be included. Two independent reviewers will conduct study screening (at abstract and full-text level), data extraction and risk of bias assessment with disagreements resolved by an experienced researcher. Random or fixed effects models will be used depending on data heterogeneity and data will be presented as risk ratio for dichotomous data or mean difference for continuous data with a CI of 95% used for all outcomes.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Not applicable due to nature of the study type.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020195975.