J Korean Med Sci.  2020 Mar;35(11):e66. 10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e66.

Effect of Cervical Cerclage on the Risk of Recurrent Preterm Birth after a Twin Spontaneous Preterm Birth

• Kim S
• Park HS
• Kwon H
• Seol HJ
• Bae JG
• Ahn KH
• Na S
• Lee SJ
• Lee MY
• Lee SM
• Kwak DW
• Park JY
• Park IY
• Won HS
• Kim MY
• Ko HS
• Hwang HS
• Korean Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology Research Group

• KMID: 2471789
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e66

Abstract

BACKGROUND
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cervical cerclage on the recurrence risk for preterm birth in singleton pregnant women after a twin spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB).
METHODS
This multicenter retrospective cohort study included women who had a singleton pregnancy from January 2009 to December 2018 at 10 referral hospitals and a twin sPTB before the current pregnancy. We compared the cervical lengths during pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes, according to the placement of prophylactic or emergency cerclage. We evaluated the independent risk factors for sPTB (< 37 weeks of gestation) in a subsequent singleton pregnancy.
RESULTS
For the index singleton pregnancy, preterm birth occurred in seven (11.1%) of 63 women. There was no significant difference in the cervical lengths during pregnancy in women with and without cerclage. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the placement of emergency cerclage was an independent risk factor for subsequent singleton preterm birth (odds ratio [OR], 93.188; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.633-5,316.628; P = 0.027); however, the placement of prophylactic cerclage (OR, 19.264; 95% CI, 0.915-405.786; P = 0.057) was not a factor. None of the women who received prophylactic cerclage delivered before 35 weeks' gestation in the index singleton pregnancy.
CONCLUSION
Cerclage did not lower the risk of preterm birth in a subsequent singleton pregnancy after a twin sPTB. However, emergency cerclage was an independent risk factor for preterm birth and there was no preterm birth before 35 weeks' gestation in the prophylactic cerclage group. Therefore, close monitoring of the cervical length and prophylactic cerclage might be considered in women who have experienced a twin sPTB at extreme gestation.

Keyword

Twins; Premature Birth; Preterm Premature Rupture of the Membranes; Uterine Cervical Incompetence; Cervical Cerclage

MeSH Terms

Cerclage, Cervical*
Cohort Studies
Emergencies
Female
Humans
Logistic Models
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Outcome
Pregnant Women
Premature Birth*
Recurrence
Referral and Consultation
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Twins*
Uterine Cervical Incompetence