Treatment of cervical incompetence by transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage.

Abstract

Cervical incompetence is a condition traditionally treated by cervical cerclage which in most cases is inserted via the transvaginal route. However the insertion of a transabdominal cervicoisthmic suture is indicated in those patients with recurrent mid-trimester losses due to an incompetent cervix where it is not technically possible to insert a transvaginal suture. Between 1987 and 1996, 12 women at the Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne were treated with transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage (TCC). Eight patients had cerclage in the nonpregnant state, and 4 were pregnant at the time. The completed pregnancies thus far have resulted in 10 surviving infants, a successful pregnancy rate of 69.2%. This compares favourably with a corrected preTCC successful pregnancy rate of only 13%. There were minimal intraoperative complications in our series. Bleeding, chorioamnionitis and premature rupture of the membranes have been reported elsewhere and occurred in 2 of our patients. Our results and a review of the literature confirms that TCC has an important role in carefully-selected patients.

• Authors: S Craig, J R Fliegner
• Journal: The Australian & New Zealand journal of obstetrics & gynaecology (Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol) Vol. 37 Issue 4 Pg. 407-11 (Nov 1997) ISSN: 0004-8666 [Print] Australia
• PMID: 9429702 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Female
• Humans
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Outcome
• Retrospective Studies
• Suture Techniques
• Uterine Cervical Incompetence (surgery)