Pregnancy Outcomes after Cervical Cerclage
Keywords:
Cervical cerclage, cervical laceration, deep vein thrombosis, live-birth, pulmonary edemaAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess maternal and neonatal outcomes following emergency cervical cerclage (ECC) in women with cervical incompetence.
METHODOLOGY: This prospective, observational cohort study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, from December 2024 to September 2025. A total of 160 women aged 18 to 35 years with singleton pregnancies presenting during the second trimester and diagnosed with cervical incompetence based on clinical and ultrasound criteria were prospectively enrolled. Inclusion required a history of at least one previous second-trimester pregnancy loss and evidence of painless cervical dilation with or without bulging membranes. ECC was performed under aseptic conditions, with standardized perioperative monitoring and postoperative follow-up. Outcomes assessed included live birth rate, gestational age at delivery, interval from cerclage to delivery, neonatal birth weight, and maternal complications. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0.
RESULTS: Among 160 women, the mean maternal age at cerclage was 26.4±2.4 years, and the mean gestational age was 26.0±2.5 weeks. Mean cervical dilation was 2.3±0.8 cm. Live birth occurred in 156(97.5%) women. The mean interval from cerclage to delivery was 64.5±21.3 days. Mean gestational age at delivery was 32.4±4.3 weeks, with mean neonatal birth weight 1890±610g. Maternal complications included cervical laceration in 2(1.3%), deep vein thrombosis in 2(1.3%), and pulmonary edema in 1(0.6%).
CONCLUSION: The ECC demonstrates high rates of pregnancy prolongation and live birth, with minimal maternal morbidity.
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