title: Evaluation of outcomes associated with placement of elective, urgent, and emergency cerclage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess pregnancy outcomes after cervical cerclage.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of all cervical cerclages placed at Al Qassimi Hospital from 2004 to 2008 was performed. The primary outcome of interest was prolongation of pregnancy beyond 36 wks. Secondary outcomes were premature rupture of membranes, birth weight <1,500 g, and neonatal death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cerclage was placed in 145 women: 112 elective, 16 urgent, and 17 emergency groups. Delivery beyond 36 weeks occurred in 79.4, 73.3, and 47.1 % in the elective, urgent, and emergency groups, respectively, p = 0.011. When comparing between elective, urgent, and emergency groups, incidences of low birth weight were 9.8, 13.3, and 33.3 %, respectively, p = 0.06, and premature ruptures of membranes occurred in 7.2, 6.3, and 17.7 %, respectively, p = 0.16. There were five neonatal deaths.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therefore, although cerclage gives best results when it is performed as an elective procedure, emergency cerclage still confers some benefits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Al Qassimi Hospital, Wasit Road, PO Box 72017, Sharjah, UAE.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Al Tajir
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sulieman
keywords: Cerclage; Outcomes; Pregnancy