Abstract
Cervical insufficiency is responsible for 16-20% of second trimester losses. This study aims to compare the maternal and perinatal outcomes of the patients diagnosed with cervical insufficiency in the second trimester of pregnancy who underwent emergency cerclage and medical treatment with the patients, who were managed with only medical treatment. This retrospective study was conducted by evaluating the patients with a singleton pregnancy between the 16-24th weeks of gestation with a previous history of preterm labor, and diagnosis of cervical insufficiency, and prolapsed amniotic membrane in to the vagina. The cerclage was applied using the McDonald technique. Antibiotic prophylaxis, progesterone, indomethacin, or nifedipine were administered as medical treatment to the patients diagnosed with cervical insufficiency. It was found that among these patients, beta methasone was administered for lung maturation in those who completed the 24th gestational week. Out of a total of 29 patients, 19 patients received emergency cerclage and medical treatment, and 10 patients received only medical treatment. 7 of the patients who underwent emergency cerclage, and 2 patients that we applied medical treatment, resulted in late abortion. The mean delivery time after treatment was 24.83±12.44 days in patients who applied emergency cerclage + medical treatment; and was 20.13±6.94 days in patients who only applied medical treatment. The extra time for delivery was statistically significantly higher in the patients we applied cerclage + medical treatment (p=0.037). Perinatal death occurred in 4 of the patients diagnosed with cervical insufficiency who received emergency cerclage + medical treatment and 3 of the patients who received medical treatment after their 24th gestational week. Live births occurred in 8 of 19 patients in whom emergency cerclage + medical treatment was applied, and in 5 of 10 patients who have applied only medical treatment. In our study, we determined that emergency cerclage applications prolong the gestational period. However, no positive statistically significant contribution was found in the time gained by emergency cerclage on perinatal outcomes.