Transabdominal Cervical Cerclage: Laparoscopy Versus Laparotomy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the obstetric outcome, surgical morbidity, and pre-abdominal cerclage characteristics of women undergoing transabdominal cerclage (TAC) via laparotomy or laparoscopy.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Between 2007 and 2014, 51 patients underwent laparoscopic abdominal cervical cerclage to treat cervical incompetence. These women were compared with a historical cohort of 18 patients who underwent the same procedure via laparotomy between 1995 and 2011. All of the women had a diagnosis of cervical incompetence based on previous obstetric history and/or a short or absent cervix.


RESULTS
The fetal survival rate postcerclage was 100% in the laparotomy group (n = 30 pregnancies) and 98% in the laparoscopy group (n = 54 pregnancies). There were no perioperative pregnancy losses in either group. The median gestation age was 36.9 weeks (range: 35.0-37.3) in the laparotomy group and 37.0 weeks (range: 34.7-38.0) in the laparoscopy group. Complications were recorded in 4 (22%) cases from the laparotomy group and 1 (2%) of the laparoscopies; however, the types of complications might not be comparable between groups. There were no conversions to laparotomy in the laparoscopy group. Pre-TAC median gestational age in the laparotomy group was 24.0 weeks (range: 20.0-25.1) with 19 (57.6%) previous pregnancies occurring after transvaginal cervical cerclage placement. The corresponding laparoscopy pre-TAC median gestational age was 22.0 weeks (range 19.0-34.0) with 40 (40%) previous pregnancies having a transvaginal cerclage. Before the TAC, women in the laparotomy group had lost 25 babies, and 63 babies were lost in the laparoscopy group. After TAC, these numbers were 0 and 1.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings show that transabdominal cervical cerclage placed laparoscopically appears to be as effective as TAC placed via laparotomy. Neither approach was associated with serious or long-term complications. Because of this finding, the approach depends on the surgical experience and expertise of the unit in conjunction with discussion with the patient.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women's Hospital, and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; AGORA Centre for Women's Health Epworth Hospital, Richmond, Australia.
Alex
A
Ades
AGORA Centre for Women's Health Epworth Hospital, Richmond, Australia. Electronic address: kcd@netspace.net.au.
Kim C
KC
Dobromilsky
Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
King T
KT
Cheung
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women's Hospital, and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
Mark P
MP
Umstad
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D023802:Cerclage, Cervical / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D002581:Uterine Cervical Incompetence / Q000601:surgery*
Abdominal cerclage; Cervical incompetence; Laparoscopy; Laparotomy