Cervical length and delivery outcomes in patients with prophylactic cervical cerclage

We sought to determine the relationship between cervical length and delivery outcome in patients who received prophylactic cervical cerclage. We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients with singleton gestations who underwent cerclage during calendar years 1999 to 2008. A total of 78 patients were included in the study. Multiple clinical characteristics and their relationships to delivery outcome were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Cervical length at the time of surgery and history of one or more prior second-trimester losses were strongly associated with delivery at or after 32 weeks gestation ( P = 0.005 and P = 0.01, respectively). In fact, a cervical length greater than 2 cm at the time of surgery was associated with delivery at 32 weeks or greater (odds ratio 5.74, 95% confidence interval 1.78 to 18.5; P = 0.003). Cervical length was associated with the delivery outcome of patients with prophylactic cerclage and may be helpful in selection of surgical candidates.