TRANSABDOMINAL CERVICO-ISTHMIC CERCLAGE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CERVICALINCOMPETENCE

The use of transabdominal cervico-isthmic cerclage is described in 13 patients with a diagnosis of cervical incompetence. The patients were recruited from seven Scottish Maternity Units over a period of 10 year s. The 13 patients have had a successful pregnancy in 86.6% of pregnan cies with this procedure compared with a success rate of 16% in their previous pregnancies. In carefully selected cases transabdominal cervi co-isthmic cerclage is a worthwhile procedure in patients with cervica l incompetence when the cervix is so damaged that it would be impossib le to insert a vaginal suture or when a vaginal suture has previously failed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.