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Cervical Cerclage – Professional Recommendations

CLINICAL ACTIONS:

ACOG defines cervical insufficiency as “the inability of the uterine cervix to retain a pregnancy in the absence of the signs and symptoms of clinical contractions, or labor, or both in the second trimester.” In addition, ACOG separates out indication for cerclage in to 3 categories

  • History: ≥1 of the following
    • Second trimester pregnancy losses related to painless cervical dilation and no history of labor or abruption
    • Previous second trimester cerclage for painless cervical dilation
  • Physical Examination: Also known as ‘physical examination–indicated cerclage’, ‘rescue cerclage’ and ’emergency cerclage’
    • Patient presents with painless second trimester cervical dilation
  • Ultrasound: Cervical length shortening and history of preterm birth
    • Singleton pregnancy
    • Prior spontaneous preterm birth (<34 weeks)
    • Cervical length:  <25 mm (at <24 weeks)

SMFM states that cerclages are effective in woman based on the following indications:

  • History indicated: 3 or more PTBs or second-trimester losses.
  • Ultrasound indicated: ≥1 early PTB (defined as delivery between 17w to 33w6d), and cervical length (CL) <25 mm on transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) before 24 weeks

Timing of Cerclage Placement

  • History-indicated cerclage
    • Place between 12 and 14 weeks after confirmation of pregnancy viability
  • Ultrasound or exam-indicated cerclage
    • May be placed prior to 23 weeks

Risk Factors

  • Prior PTB
  • Repeated cervical dilation
  • Cervical procedures (including cone and LEEP)
  • Cervical laceration
  • Urogenital abnormalities

SYNOPSIS:

Clinically, cervical insufficiency is painless dilation and recurrent mid-trimester losses without signs of preterm labor (PTL), PPROM, or infection. Patient history may include superimposed symptoms (i.e. bleeding, pressure), therefore a judicious review of records is advised.  Those with a history of prior preterm birth can benefit from cervical length screening to appropriate guide selected patients for cerclage.

KEY POINTS:

Ultrasound Indicated Cerclage with Prior History of Preterm Birth or Second Trimester Losses (SMFM)

  • CL surveillance
    • Begin at 16 weeks and end at 24 weeks
    • Perform every 1 to 2 weeks
  • Offer cerclage when
    • CL <25 mm prior to 23w0d weeks and
    • History of spontaneous PTB at 17w0d to 33w6d
  • Evidence from research studies
    • There is no difference in efficacy of McDonald versus Shirodkar techniques

‘Emergency’ Cerclage (Exam indicated)

  • There is literature, including a meta-analysis (Obstet Gynecol, 2015), to support ’emergency’ or ‘rescue’ cerclage
    • Neonatal survival
      • Cerclage: 71% survival
      • No cerclage: 43% survival
      • Relative risk 1.65 (95% CI 1.19 to 2.28)
    • Prolongation of pregnancy
      • Mean difference: 33.98 days (95% CI, 17.88 to 50.08)
    • Authors note significant limitations including quality of data and only 1 RCT included

After clinical examination to rule out uterine activity, or intraamniotic infection, or both, physical examination-indicated cerclage placement (if technically feasible) in patients with singleton gestations who have cervical change of the internal os may be beneficial

Additional Interventions

  • Evidence does not support use of the following after cerclage placement
    • Serial cervical length measurements
    • Antibiotics
    • Prophylactic tocolysis

Cerclage Removal

  • Remove transvaginal McDonald cerclage at 36 to 37 weeks
  • Cesarean delivery planned for ≥39 weeks
    • May be removed at time of delivery
    • Consider possibility of spontaneous labor between 37 and 39 weeks
  • McDonald cerclage may be removed in the office
  • PPROM
    • Removal or retention “is reasonable”
    • Prolonged antibiotic prophylaxis >7 days not recommended if suture is retained
  • Preterm labor
    • Diagnosis may be more difficult with cerclage in place

Routine management of preterm labor should be followed for patients with symptomatic preterm labor

If cervical change, painful contractions, or vaginal bleeding progress, cerclage removal is recommended

Learn More – Primary Sources:

ACOG Practice Bulletin 142: Cerclage for the Management of Cervical Insufficiency

Physical Examination–Indicated Cerclage: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

MFM: The role of routine cervical length screening in selected high- and low-risk women for preterm birth prevention