title: Modification of cervical length after cervical pessary insertion: correlation weeks of gestation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the modifications in cervical length (CL) in patients with and without cervical pessary (Arabin® ASQ 65/25/32) and correlate these modifications with gestational age at delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study of asymptomatic singleton pregnancies (PECEP-Trial) between weeks 20 + 0 and 23 + 6 with maternal short cervix (<25 mm) randomised into two groups: expectant management and cervical pessary.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study included 380 pregnant women: 190 with pessary and 190 without pessary. Mean CL in both groups at the time of randomisation showed no statistically-significant differences (pessary group: 19.0 mm and management group: 19.0 mm; p = 0.9). Mean CL measured after randomisation was 15.4 mm in patients of the expectant management group and 21.5 mm in the pessary group. These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.0001). When means at randomisation and at the second measurement were compared, CL had decreased by 3.6 mm in the expectant management group and increased by 2.6 mm in the pessary group; this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Coefficients of correlation showed that among patients of both groups with the same CL at 20 weeks of gestation, those with a pessary gave birth later.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Insertion of an Arabin cervical pessary increased CL in asymptomatic patients with a short cervix, which correlated with shorter gestational age at delivery. The cervical pessary halted the progressive decrease in CL, which correlated with longer gestational age at delivery.
authors: a Department of Obstetrics , Maternal Foetal Medicine Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.
authors: Manel
authors: M
authors: Mendoza
authors: a Department of Obstetrics , Maternal Foetal Medicine Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Goya
authors: a Department of Obstetrics , Maternal Foetal Medicine Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Gascón
authors: a Department of Obstetrics , Maternal Foetal Medicine Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.
authors: Laia
authors: L
authors: Pratcorona
authors: a Department of Obstetrics , Maternal Foetal Medicine Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.
authors: Carme
authors: C
authors: Merced
authors: a Department of Obstetrics , Maternal Foetal Medicine Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.
authors: Carlota
authors: C
authors: Rodó
authors: b Department of Obstetrics , Maternal Foetal Medicine Unit, Hospital Materno Infantil de Canarias. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria , Canary Islands , Spain.
authors: Leonor
authors: L
authors: Valle
authors: b Department of Obstetrics , Maternal Foetal Medicine Unit, Hospital Materno Infantil de Canarias. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria , Canary Islands , Spain.
authors: Azahar
authors: A
authors: Romero
authors: c Department of Obstetrics , Maternal Foetal Medicine Unit, Hospital Son Llatzer , Balearic Islands , Spain.
authors: Miquel
authors: M
authors: Juan
authors: d Department of Obstetrics , Maternal Foetal Medicine Unit, Institut Sanitari Dexeus , Barcelona , Spain.
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Rodríguez
authors: e Department of Obstetrics , Maternal Foetal Medicine Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Reus . Reus, Tarragona , Spain , and.
authors: Begoña
authors: B
authors: Muñoz
authors: f Department of Obstetrics , Maternal Foetal Medicine Unit, Hospital de Fuenlabrada , Madrid , Spain.
authors: Bele N
authors: BN
authors: Santacruz
authors: a Department of Obstetrics , Maternal Foetal Medicine Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Carreras
authors: a Department of Obstetrics , Maternal Foetal Medicine Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Cabero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D054791:Cervical Length Measurement; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D010570:Pessaries; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D057832:Watchful Waiting; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cervical pessary; cervical length; preterm birth