Effectiveness of Cervical Encerclage and its Perinatal Outcome - A Cohort Study

Abstract

Background: A major contributor to perinatal morbidity and mortality, cervical incompetence is a well-known cause of premature birth and second-trimester pregnancy loss. For women who are at high risk of cervical insufficiency, cervical cerclage is still one of the main interventional techniques used to prevent unfavorable pregnancy outcomes. However, there is ongoing discussion about the efficacy of cerclage and how it affects perinatal outcomes, especially in a variety of therapeutic contexts.

Objective: To assess how well cervical cerclage works for women with cervical incompetence in terms of extending pregnancy and enhancing perinatal outcomes.

Methods: This 12-month prospective cohort study was carried out at Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), Darbhanga. A total of 120 pregnant women were included who had been diagnosed with cervical incompetence based on ultrasonographic evidence, clinical history, or both. Standard surgical methods were used to perform cervical cerclage on the participants. Pregnancy prolongation, mode of delivery, maternal features, and gestational age at cerclage placement, and perinatal outcomes, such as birth weight, gestational age at delivery, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and perinatal death, were all noted and examined.

Results: In most cases, cervical cerclage was linked to a notable extension of gestation. Better newborn survival rates and a greater percentage of women giving birth beyond 34 weeks of pregnancy. Extreme preterm birth was less common, and a significant percentage of newborns had good birth weights. Pregnancies with effective cerclage retention until late gestation had comparatively decreased rates of perinatal morbidity, including NICU hospitalization.

Conclusion: For women with cervical incompetence, cervical cerclage is a successful technique that prolongs gestation and improves neonatal outcomes. Optimizing maternal and newborn outcomes requires early diagnosis and prompt cerclage placement.

Keywords: Cervical incompetence; cervical cerclage; preterm birth; perinatal outcome; Pregnancy prolongation; Cohort study