title: Laparoscopic placement of cervical cerclage.
abstract: Cervical shortening is believed to be a marker for generalized intrauterine inflammation and has a strong association with spontaneous preterm birth. A variety of therapies, including vaginal and intramuscular progesterone, pessary, and cerclage, have been demonstrated to be effective in specific clinical circumstances. Cervical cerclage can be placed via transvaginal, open transabdominal, or laparoscopic transabdominal approach, preferably before pregnancy. A laparoscopic approach may be superior to the transabdominal approach in terms of surgical outcomes, cost, and postoperative morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Olga A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Tusheva
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: McElrath
authors.forename: Jon I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Einarsson
keywords: Cervical cerclage; Cervical insufficiency; Preterm delivery