Influence of preoperative light vaginal bleeding for perinatal adverse outcomes on physical examination-indicated cerclage

Abstract

Purpose

To clarify the relationship between light vaginal bleeding (LVB) before physical examination-indicated cerclage (PEIC) and perinatal adverse outcomes.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study involving 94 singleton pregnancies undergoing PEIC <26 weeks of gestation at a single perinatal medical center between 2008 and 2015. The primary outcome was set as spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) <34 weeks of gestation. The secondary outcomes were set as the second-trimester loss prior to 22 weeks of gestation, sPTB before 28 weeks of gestation, sPTB before 37 weeks of gestation, and stillbirth or neonatal death. Relationships between LVB and adverse outcomes were evaluated using logistic regression analysis.

Results

Preoperative LVB was detected in 16 cases (17.0%). Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that preoperative LVB was an independent risk factor for sPTB <34 weeks of gestation (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 8.42; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.72–41.1; p < .01), sPTB <28 weeks of gestation (aOR: 5.98; 95% CI: 1.67–21.4; p < .01) and perinatal death (aOR: 8.47; 95% CI: 1.11–64.5; p = .04).

Conclusions

Vaginal bleeding prior to PEIC, even nonsignificant or self-limiting, is associated with sPTB before 28 or 34 weeks of gestation and perinatal death.

Keywords:

• Cerclage
• light vaginal bleeding
• perinatal outcome
• pregnancy
• premature birth

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.