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American Journal of Obstetrics &... Jul 2023An emergency (rescue) cervical cerclage can be offered to pregnant women presenting with dilatation and prolapsed membranes in the second trimester of pregnancy because... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
An emergency (rescue) cervical cerclage can be offered to pregnant women presenting with dilatation and prolapsed membranes in the second trimester of pregnancy because of cervical insufficiency. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of an emergency cerclage in both singleton and twin pregnancies in the prevention of extreme premature birth.
DATA SOURCES
We performed a systematic literature search in PubMed and Embase from inception to June 2022 for transvaginal cervical emergency cerclages.
STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
All studies on transvaginal cervical emergency cerclages with at least 5 patients and reporting survival were included.
METHODS
Included studies were assessed for quality and risk of bias with an adjusted Quality In Prognosis Studies tool. Random-effects meta-analyses and meta-regressions were performed for the primary outcome: survival.
RESULTS
Our search yielded 96 studies, incorporating 3239 women, including 14 studies with an expectant management control group, incorporating 746 women. Overall survival after cervical emergency cerclage was 74%, with a fetal survival of 88% and neonatal survival of 90%. Singleton and twin pregnancies showed similar survival, with a pregnancy prolongation of 52 and 37 days and a gestational age at delivery of 30 and 28 weeks, respectively. Meta-regression analyses indicated a significant inverse association between mean gestational age at diagnosis and pregnancy prolongation and no association between dilatation or gestational age at diagnosis and gestational age at delivery. Compared with expectant management, emergency cerclage significantly increased overall survival by 43%, fetal survival by 17% and neonatal survival by 22%, along with a significant pregnancy prolongation of 37 days and reduction in delivery at <28 weeks of gestation of 55%. These effects were more profound in singleton pregnancies than in twin pregnancies.
CONCLUSION
This systematic review indicates that, in pregnancies threatened by extreme premature birth because of cervical insufficiency, emergency cerclage leads to significantly higher survival, accompanied by significant pregnancy prolongation and reduction in delivery at <28 weeks of gestation, compared with expectant management. The mean gestational age at delivery was 30 weeks, independent of dilatation or gestational age at diagnosis. Survival was similar for singleton and twin pregnancies, implying that emergency cerclage should be considered in both.
Topics: Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Infant; Pregnancy, Twin; Cerclage, Cervical; Premature Birth; Cervix Uteri; Pregnancy Complications
PubMed: 37084870
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2023.100971 -
International Journal of Gynaecology... Oct 2021Cervical cerclage is an intervention which when given to the right women can prevent preterm birth and second-trimester fetal losses. A history-indicated cerclage should...
Cervical cerclage is an intervention which when given to the right women can prevent preterm birth and second-trimester fetal losses. A history-indicated cerclage should be offered to women who have had three or more preterm deliveries and/or mid-trimester losses. An ultrasound-indicated cerclage should be offered to women with a cervical length <25 mm if they have had one or more spontaneous preterm birth and/or mid-trimester loss. In high-risk women who have not had a previous mid-trimester loss or preterm birth, an ultrasound-indicated cerclage does not have a clear benefit in women with a short cervix. However, for twins, the advantage seems more likely at shorter cervical lengths (<15 mm). In women who present with exposed membranes prolapsing through the cervical os, a rescue cerclage can be considered on an individual case basis, taking into account the high risk of infective morbidity to mother and baby. An abdominal cerclage can be offered in women who have had a failed cerclage (delivery before 28 weeks after a history or ultrasound-indicated [but not rescue] cerclage). If preterm birth has not occurred, removal is considered at 36-37 weeks in women anticipating a vaginal delivery.
Topics: Cerclage, Cervical; Cervix Uteri; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, Second; Premature Birth
PubMed: 34520055
DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.13835 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Mar 2021Despite the progress of medicine in the last decades, recurrent pregnancy loss, premature birth, and related complications are still a vast problem. The reasons for... (Review)
Review
Despite the progress of medicine in the last decades, recurrent pregnancy loss, premature birth, and related complications are still a vast problem. The reasons for recurrent pregnancy loss and preterm delivery are diverse and multifactorial. One of the main reasons for these complications is cervical insufficiency, which means that the cervix is weak and unable to remain closed until the date of delivery. It manifests as painless softening and shortening of the cervix without contractions. The aim of the study was to review the available literature on rescue sutures, which are an emergency treatment in pregnancies with premature cervical dilatation and protrusion of the fetal membranes in the second trimester of pregnancy. This review confirms that emergency cerclage reduces the rate of preterm birth in patients with advanced cervical insufficiency. This procedure prolongs gestational age and improves the chances of survival of the newborn without increasing the risk of chorioamnionitis and preterm premature rupture of membranes.
PubMed: 33803886
DOI: 10.3390/jcm10061270 -
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) Feb 2022To compare the efficacy of bed rest, cervical cerclage (McDonald, Shirodkar, or unspecified type of cerclage), cervical pessary, fish oils or omega fatty acids,... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
OBJECTIVES
To compare the efficacy of bed rest, cervical cerclage (McDonald, Shirodkar, or unspecified type of cerclage), cervical pessary, fish oils or omega fatty acids, nutritional supplements (zinc), progesterone (intramuscular, oral, or vaginal), prophylactic antibiotics, prophylactic tocolytics, combinations of interventions, placebo or no treatment (control) to prevent spontaneous preterm birth in women with a singleton pregnancy and a history of spontaneous preterm birth or short cervical length.
DESIGN
Systematic review with bayesian network meta-analysis.
DATA SOURCES
The Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Database of Trials, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, relevant journals, conference proceedings, and registries of ongoing trials.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES
Randomised controlled trials of pregnant women who are at high risk of spontaneous preterm birth because of a history of spontaneous preterm birth or short cervical length. No language or date restrictions were applied.
OUTCOMES
Seven maternal outcomes and 11 fetal outcomes were analysed in line with published core outcomes for preterm birth research. Relative treatment effects (odds ratios and 95% credible intervals) and certainty of evidence are presented for outcomes of preterm birth <34 weeks and perinatal death.
RESULTS
Sixty one trials (17 273 pregnant women) contributed data for the analysis of at least one outcome. For preterm birth <34 weeks (40 trials, 13 310 pregnant women) and with placebo or no treatment as the comparator, vaginal progesterone was associated with fewer women with preterm birth <34 weeks (odds ratio 0.50, 95% credible interval 0.34 to 0.70, high certainty of evidence). Shirodkar cerclage showed the largest effect size (0.06, 0.00 to 0.84), but the certainty of evidence was low. 17OHPC (17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate; 0.68, 0.43 to 1.02, moderate certainty), vaginal pessary (0.65, 0.39 to 1.08, moderate certainty), and fish oil or omega 3 (0.30, 0.06 to 1.23, moderate certainty) might also reduce preterm birth <34 weeks compared with placebo or no treatment. For the fetal outcome of perinatal death (30 trials, 12 119 pregnant women) and with placebo or no treatment as the comparator, vaginal progesterone was the only treatment that showed clear evidence of benefit for this outcome (0.66, 0.44 to 0.97, moderate certainty). 17OHPC (0.78, 0.50 to 1.21, moderate certainty), McDonald cerclage (0.59, 0.33 to 1.03, moderate certainty), and unspecified cerclage (0.77, 0.53 to 1.11, moderate certainty) might reduce perinatal death rates, but credible intervals could not exclude the possibility of harm. Only progesterone treatments are associated with reduction in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal sepsis, necrotising enterocolitis, and admission to neonatal intensive care unit compared with controls.
CONCLUSION
Vaginal progesterone should be considered the preventative treatment of choice for women with singleton pregnancy identified to be at risk of spontaneous preterm birth because of a history of spontaneous preterm birth or short cervical length. Future randomised controlled trials should use vaginal progesterone as a comparator to identify better treatments or combination treatments.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
PROSPERO CRD42020169006.
Topics: Administration, Intravaginal; Bayes Theorem; Female; Humans; Network Meta-Analysis; Pregnancy; Premature Birth; Progesterone; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 35168930
DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2021-064547 -
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) Jul 2016To assess the effect of treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) on obstetric outcomes and to correlate this with cone depth and comparison group used. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) on obstetric outcomes and to correlate this with cone depth and comparison group used.
DESIGN
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
DATA SOURCES
CENTRAL, Medline, Embase from 1948 to April 2016 were searched for studies assessing obstetric outcomes in women with or without previous local cervical treatment.
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
Independent reviewers extracted the data and performed quality assessment using the Newcastle-Ottawa criteria. Studies were classified according to method and obstetric endpoint. Pooled risk ratios were calculated with a random effect model and inverse variance. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed with I(2) statistics.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Obstetric outcomes comprised preterm birth (including spontaneous and threatened), premature rupture of the membranes, chorioamnionitis, mode of delivery, length of labour, induction of delivery, oxytocin use, haemorrhage, analgesia, cervical cerclage, and cervical stenosis. Neonatal outcomes comprised low birth weight, admission to neonatal intensive care, stillbirth, APGAR scores, and perinatal mortality.
RESULTS
71 studies were included (6 338 982 participants: 65 082 treated/6 292 563 untreated). Treatment significantly increased the risk of overall (<37 weeks; 10.7% v 5.4%; relative risk 1.78, 95% confidence interval 1.60 to 1.98), severe (<32-34 weeks; 3.5% v 1.4%; 2.40, 1.92 to 2.99), and extreme (<28-30 weeks; 1.0% v 0.3%; 2.54, 1.77 to 3.63) preterm birth. Techniques removing or ablating more tissue were associated with worse outcomes. Relative risks for delivery at <37 weeks were 2.70 (2.14 to 3.40) for cold knife conisation, 2.11 (1.26 to 3.54) for laser conisation, 2.02 (1.60 to 2.55) for excision not otherwise specified, 1.56 (1.36 to 1.79) for large loop excision of the transformation zone, and 1.46 (1.27 to 1.66) for ablation not otherwise specified. Compared with no treatment, the risk of preterm birth was higher in women who had undergone more than one treatment (13.2% v 4.1%; 3.78, 2.65 to 5.39) and with increasing cone depth (≤10-12 mm; 7.1% v 3.4%; 1.54, 1.09 to 2.18; ≥10-12 mm: 9.8% v 3.4%, 1.93, 1.62 to 2.31; ≥15-17 mm: 10.1% v 3.4%; 2.77, 1.95 to 3.93; ≥20 mm: 10.2% v 3.4%; 4.91, 2.06 to 11.68). The choice of comparison group affected the magnitude of effect. This was higher for external comparators, followed by internal comparators, and ultimately women with disease who did not undergo treatment. In women with untreated CIN and in pregnancies before treatment, the risk of preterm birth was higher than the risk in the general population (5.9% v 5.6%; 1.24, 1.14 to 1.35). Spontaneous preterm birth, premature rupture of the membranes, chorioamnionitis, low birth weight, admission to neonatal intensive care, and perinatal mortality were also significantly increased after treatment. :
CONCLUSIONS
Women with CIN have a higher baseline risk for prematurity. Excisional and ablative treatment further increases that risk. The frequency and severity of adverse sequelae increases with increasing cone depth and is higher for excision than for ablation.
Topics: Adult; Cervix Uteri; Conization; Delivery, Obstetric; Female; Humans; Obstetric Labor, Premature; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic; Pregnancy Outcome; Premature Birth; Risk Factors; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Uterine Cervical Dysplasia
PubMed: 27469988
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.i3633 -
American Journal of Obstetrics and... Jul 2018An indirect comparison meta-analysis published in 2013 reported that both vaginal progesterone and cerclage are equally efficacious for preventing preterm birth and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Vaginal progesterone is as effective as cervical cerclage to prevent preterm birth in women with a singleton gestation, previous spontaneous preterm birth, and a short cervix: updated indirect comparison meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
An indirect comparison meta-analysis published in 2013 reported that both vaginal progesterone and cerclage are equally efficacious for preventing preterm birth and adverse perinatal outcomes in women with a singleton gestation, previous spontaneous preterm birth, and a sonographic short cervix. The efficacy of vaginal progesterone has been challenged after publication of the OPPTIMUM study. However, this has been resolved by an individual patient-data meta-analysis (Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2018;218:161-180).
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy of vaginal progesterone and cerclage in preventing preterm birth and adverse perinatal outcomes in women with a singleton gestation, previous spontaneous preterm birth, and a midtrimester sonographic short cervix.
DATA SOURCES
MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, and CINAHL (from their inception to March 2018); Cochrane databases, bibliographies, and conference proceedings.
STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Randomized controlled trials comparing vaginal progesterone to placebo/no treatment or cerclage to no cerclage in women with a singleton gestation, previous spontaneous preterm birth, and a sonographic cervical length <25 mm.
STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS
Updated systematic review and adjusted indirect comparison meta-analysis of vaginal progesterone vs cerclage using placebo/no cerclage as the common comparator. The primary outcomes were preterm birth <35 weeks of gestation and perinatal mortality. Pooled relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated.
RESULTS
Five trials comparing vaginal progesterone vs placebo (265 women) and 5 comparing cerclage vs no cerclage (504 women) were included. Vaginal progesterone, compared to placebo, significantly reduced the risk of preterm birth <35 and <32 weeks of gestation, composite perinatal morbidity/mortality, neonatal sepsis, composite neonatal morbidity, and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (RRs from 0.29 to 0.68). Cerclage, compared to no cerclage, significantly decreased the risk of preterm birth <37, <35, <32, and <28 weeks of gestation, composite perinatal morbidity/mortality, and birthweight <1500 g (RRs from 0.64 to 0.70). Adjusted indirect comparison meta-analyses did not show statistically significant differences between vaginal progesterone and cerclage in the reduction of preterm birth or adverse perinatal outcomes.
CONCLUSION
Vaginal progesterone and cerclage are equally effective for preventing preterm birth and improving perinatal outcomes in women with a singleton gestation, previous spontaneous preterm birth, and a midtrimester sonographic short cervix. The choice of treatment will depend on adverse events and cost-effectiveness of interventions and patient/physician's preferences.
Topics: Administration, Intravaginal; Cerclage, Cervical; Cervical Length Measurement; Female; Humans; Infant, Extremely Premature; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Neonatal Sepsis; Perinatal Mortality; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, Second; Pregnancy Trimester, Third; Premature Birth; Progesterone; Progestins; Secondary Prevention
PubMed: 29630885
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2018.03.028 -
American Journal of Obstetrics and... Aug 2019Cervical insufficiency is a risk factor for spontaneous midtrimester abortion or early preterm birth. Intra-amniotic infection has been reported in 8-52% of such...
Evidence that antibiotic administration is effective in the treatment of a subset of patients with intra-amniotic infection/inflammation presenting with cervical insufficiency.
BACKGROUND
Cervical insufficiency is a risk factor for spontaneous midtrimester abortion or early preterm birth. Intra-amniotic infection has been reported in 8-52% of such patients and intra-amniotic inflammation in 81%. Some professional organizations have recommended perioperative antibiotic treatment when emergency cervical cerclage is performed. The use of prophylactic antibiotics is predicated largely on the basis that they reduce the rate of complications during the course of vaginal surgery. However, it is possible that antibiotic administration can also eradicate intra-amniotic infection/inflammation and improve pregnancy outcome.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the outcome of antibiotic treatment in patients with cervical insufficiency and intra-amniotic infection/inflammation.
STUDY DESIGN
The study population consisted of 22 women who met the following criteria: (1) singleton pregnancy; (2) painless cervical dilatation of >1 cm between 16.0 and 27.9 weeks of gestation; (3) intact membranes and absence of uterine contractions; (4) transabdominal amniocentesis performed for the evaluation of the microbiologic and inflammatory status of the amniotic cavity; (5) presence of intra-amniotic infection/inflammation; and (6) antibiotic treatment (regimen consisted of ceftriaxone, clarithromycin, and metronidazole). Amniotic fluid was cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and genital mycoplasmas, and polymerase chain reaction for Ureaplasma spp. was performed. Intra-amniotic infection was defined as a positive amniotic fluid culture for microorganisms or a positive polymerase chain reaction for Ureaplasma spp., and intra-amniotic inflammation was suspected when there was an elevated amniotic fluid white blood cell count (≥19 cells/mm) or a positive rapid test for metalloproteinase-8 (sensitivity 10 ng/mL). For the purpose of this study, the "gold standard" for diagnosis of intra-amniotic inflammation was an elevated interleukin-6 concentration (>2.6 ng/mL) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results of amniotic fluid interleukin-6 were not available to managing clinicians. Follow-up amniocentesis was routinely offered to monitor the microbiologic and inflammatory status of the amniotic cavity and fetal lung maturity. Treatment success was defined as resolution of intra-amniotic infection/inflammation or delivery ≥34 weeks of gestation.
RESULTS
Of 22 patients with cervical insufficiency and intra-amniotic infection/inflammation, 3 (14%) had microorganisms in the amniotic fluid. Of the 22 patients, 6 (27%) delivered within 1 week of amniocentesis and the remaining 16 (73%) delivered more than 1 week after the diagnostic procedure. Among these, 12 had a repeat amniocentesis to assess the microbial and inflammatory status of the amniotic cavity; in 75% (9/12), there was objective evidence of resolution of intra-amniotic inflammation or intra-amniotic infection demonstrated by analysis of amniotic fluid at the time of the repeat amniocentesis. Of the 4 patients who did not have a follow-up amniocentesis, all delivered ≥34 weeks, 2 of them at term; thus, treatment success occurred in 59% (13/22) of cases.
CONCLUSION
In patients with cervical insufficiency and intra-amniotic infection/inflammation, administration of antibiotics (ceftriaxone, clarithromycin, and metronidazole) was followed by resolution of the intra-amniotic inflammatory process or intra-amniotic infection in 75% of patients and was associated with treatment success in about 60% of cases.
Topics: Adult; Amniocentesis; Amniotic Fluid; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Biomarkers; Candida albicans; Ceftriaxone; Cerclage, Cervical; Chorioamnionitis; Clarithromycin; Delivery, Obstetric; Female; Humans; Interleukin-6; Leukocytes; Matrix Metalloproteinase 8; Metronidazole; Pregnancy; Retrospective Studies; Streptococcus anginosus; Ureaplasma; Uterine Cervical Incompetence
PubMed: 30928565
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2019.03.017 -
Best Practice & Research. Clinical... Oct 2018Spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB), defined as delivery before 37 weeks' gestation, remains a significant obstetric dilemma even after decades of research in this field.... (Review)
Review
Spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB), defined as delivery before 37 weeks' gestation, remains a significant obstetric dilemma even after decades of research in this field. Although trends from 2007 to 2014 showed the rate of preterm birth slightly decreased, the CDC recently reported the rate of preterm birth has increased for two consecutive years since 2014. Currently, 1 in 10 pregnancies in the US still end prematurely. In this chapter, we focus on the "compartment" of the cervix. The goal is to outline the current knowledge of normal cervical structure and function in pregnancy and the current knowledge of how the cervix malfunctions lead to SPTB. We review the mechanisms by which our current interventions are hypothesized to work. Finally, we outline gaps in knowledge and future research directions that may lead to novel and effective interventions to prevent premature cervical failure and SPTB.
Topics: Animals; Cerclage, Cervical; Cervix Uteri; Female; Humans; Pessaries; Pregnancy; Premature Birth; Progesterone; Progestins; Risk Factors
PubMed: 30314740
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2018.03.007 -
Fertility and Sterility Oct 2020
Topics: Cerclage, Cervical; Counseling; Female; Fertilization; Humans; Pregnancy; Robotics; Uterine Cervical Incompetence
PubMed: 33040984
DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2020.08.1401