Effect of cerclage on labor course and obstetric outcome: a case-control study

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of cervical cerclage on labor course and obstetric outcome. Methods: In a retrospective case-control study, we compared labor course, total labor duration, and obstetric complications in 127 women who received cervical cerclage with 254 controls. Results: There was no significant difference in the duration of the first stage of labor (477 ± 576 vs. 373 ± 437 min, p = 0.075) or the second stage of labor (18 ± 17 vs. 20 ± 19 min, p = 0.287) between the 2 groups. In the multivariate analysis, women in the cerclage group were found to be significantly more likely to have a prolonged latent phase (odds ratio [OR], 2.802; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.103–7.120; p = 0.030), cervical laceration (OR, 15.984; 95% CI, 3.169–80.624; p = 0.001), and treatment with tocolytics (OR, 2.580; 95% CI, 1.217–5.468; p = 0.013) than the control group. No significant difference was noted in cesarean delivery rate. Conclusions: Cervical cerclage is more likely to be associated with a prolonged latent phase and minor obstetric complications, but not with a difference in the total duration of labor or increased cesarean delivery rate.

Keywords::

• Cervical insufficiency
• cervical laceration
• cesarean delivery
• dysfunctional labor
• prior preterm birth

Acknowledgments

Statistical consultation was supported by Catholic Research Coordinating Center of the Korea Health 21 R&D Project (A070001), the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea.

Declaration of interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.