Cervical cerclage in a Nigerian tertiary hospital: A review

Aim: The aim of the following study is to document the outcome of cervical cerclage in pregnancy. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was undertaken of patients who had cervical cerclage for cervical incompetence at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin-City, Nigeria from January 2007 to December 2012. The cerclage was termed successful if the pregnancy was carried to term. Multiple demographic and clinical characteristics and their relationship to cerclage outcome were analyzed. Results: The records of 123 patients who underwent cerclage over the 6 years period reviewed were analyzed. The mean age was 33.3 ± 3.9 and majority (68.3%) were multiparous, with most of them (90.2%) having had a previous miscarriage. Majority (90.2%) had elective cerclage and 4 (3.3%) had emergency cerclage. Overall majority of patients delivered at 37 and 38 weeks gestation 23.6% and 19.5% respectively. Outcome of cerclage was adjudged successful in 92 (74.8%) of cases and failed in 31 (25.2%) cases. The most frequent complication was pre-viable or preterm rupture of membranes (14.6%). Cerclage outcome was not influenced by age, parity, gestational age at cerclage or experience of the surgeon. The mean duration for which pregnancy was prolonged after an emergency cerclage was 2.6 ± 2.4 weeks and emergency procedure was significantly associated with a failed cerclage. Of the 111 patients with previous miscarriages who had cerclage procedure, 68 (61.3%) had term deliveries and 23 (20.7%) preterm births. Fetal salvage rate of 98 (79.7%) was observed. Conclusion: Use of cerclage for suspected cases of cervical incompetence can have an important beneficial effect in carefully selected cases of cervical incompetence even amongst pregnant black African women.