Complications of cervical cerclage in rural areas.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the outcome of pregnancies following cervical cerclage in rural Tanzania justifies its application in remote areas.


METHODS
Retrospective review of 16 singleton pregnancies in 13 women, who underwent cervical cerclage in a rural hospital in Tanzania during 1990-1995.


RESULTS
Ten (62.5%) live children were born. Seven women (43.8%) delivered after a gestational age of 37 weeks. Severe maternal complications were encountered 5 times (31.3%): 4 severe cervical lacerations and 1 uterine rupture.


CONCLUSIONS
One should be reluctant to apply cervical cerclage in remote rural areas due to the high rate of maternal complications, as patients' delay in reaching the hospital may be considerable in cases of preterm birth.
Jongen
V H
VH
Ndala Mission Hospital, Tabora, Tanzania.
van Roosmalen
J
J
D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000601:surgery*; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D015996:Survival Rate; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D002581:Uterine Cervical Incompetence / Q000601:surgery*