Cervical Cerclage: A Review and Rethinking of Current Practice

Abstract

Importance: Cervical insufficiency (CI) is a serious complication of pregnancy, which can cause preterm birth. Identifying how to most effectively treat CI has the potential to maximize neonatal survival in this population of women. Objective: To determine whether transabdominal cervical cerclage should be offered as a first-line treatment option in high-risk women. Evidence Acquisition: An electronic literature search for relevant studies was conducted using keywords (CI, cervical cerclage) on the MEDLINE database. Results: Although transabdominal cerclage (TAC) is reserved as a second-line treatment option over transvaginal cerclage (TVC), it has some advantages over TVC: a higher placemen..