Open AccessEmergency cerclage in the presence of protruding membranes: is pregnancy outcome predictable?
Author(s) -
CARUSO ALESSANDRO,
TRIVELLINI CARMEN,
CAROLIS SARA,
PARADISI GIANCARLO,
MANCUSO SALVATORE,
FERRAZZANI SERGIO
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0412.2000.079004265.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pregnancy , gestational age , obstetrics , cervical cerclage , cervix , premature rupture of membranes , cervical insufficiency , retrospective cohort study , birth weight , gestation , rupture of membranes , gynecology , surgery , genetics , cancer , biology
Background. The aim of this retrospective study is to verify whether some maternal features are related to pregnancy outcome in cases of emergency mid‐trimester cerclage when membranes are protruding through the dilated cervix. Methods. Between 1988 and 1996 twenty‐three pregnant patients with dilated cervix and protruding membranes were treated with emergency cerclage. At the time of cerclage, gestational age ranged from 17 to 27 weeks (median 22). Results. Pregnancy was prolonged from 0 to 20 weeks (median 4). Eleven living infants were born (46%); median gestational age at delivery was 25 weeks (range 21–39) and median birth weight 700 g (range 350–3980 g). Obstetric histories, white blood cell count, and vaginal‐cervical and urine cultures obtained on admission were analyzed in the two following groups: data from patients with good pregnancy outcome (live births) versus those from patients with poor outcome (stillbirths and neonatal deaths). No significant difference was found between the groups for the above mentioned maternal features. Conclusions. The possibility of 46% live births is considered a good result for mid‐trimester emergency cerclage when the membranes are protruding. Success of the procedure remains unpredictable on the basis of the maternal features investigated.