The effect of cerclage procedure timing and placental localization on pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women who underwent cervical cerclage

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to determine whether an ideal week for cerclage treatment and placental location could affect pregnancy outcomes.
METHODS: Eighty pregnant women who underwent cervical cerclage were included in the study. In the timing evaluation, the patients were divided into two groups according to the week of gestation at which the cerclage procedure was performed: Group 1 (11-18 weeks of gestation), and Group 2 (19-27 weeks of gestation). They were also divided into groups according to indication status: History group, Ultrasound group, and Examination group. Age, gravida, parity, previous second-trimester pregnancy loss status, previous preterm delivery, placenta localization, delivery before 28 weeks, delivery between 28-34 weeks, preterm delivery, term delivery, prolongation of the gestational week, length of hospitalization stay, the status of take home baby, neonatal outcomes were recorded and compared between groups.
RESULTS: In timing and indication groups, no statistically significant relationship was determined between the groups regarding delivery before 28 weeks of gestation, delivery between 28-34 weeks of gestation, preterm delivery, term delivery, and take home baby. There was a significant difference between the mean duration of prolongation of pregnancy and the mean duration of hospital stay (p value 0.001 for both). No significant effect of placental location on the prolongation of the gestational week and gestational age was observed. We observed that there is no optimal week for applying cerclage.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: We determined that cerclage application can be performed in all working weeks within the indication and that placental placement will not change pregnancy outcomes.