Obstetric and neonatal outcomes of delayed interval delivery in cerclage and non-cerclage cases: an analysis of 20 multiple pregnancies.

AIM: The aim of study is to compare maternal and fetal outcomes of pregnancies in which cerclage was placed following the loss of first fetus with those without cerclage placement in multiple pregnancies for delayed interval delivery.

METHODS

Records of pregnancies in which the first fetus was lost between 13-26 weeks and delayed delivery experienced for retained fetus(es), were collected retrospectively. A total of 20 patients including 11 twins, seven triplets and two quadruplets were evaluated. Cases with cervical cerclage placed after the first delivery were evaluated as the cerclage group (n = 11) and the cases without cerclage placement were evaluated as the non-cerclage group (n = 9).

RESULTS

Median duration of delay was 22 days (range, 3-121) for both groups; 40 days (range, 5-121) in cerclage group and 12 days (range, 3-46) in the non-cerclage group (P = 0.003). Average birthweight of retained fetus(es) in the cerclage group was 850 ± 153.6 g (mean ± standard error [SE]) and 549.5 ± 149.1 g (mean ± SE) in the non-cerclage group (P = 0.04). Delivery week of retained fetus(es), live birth rate, take-home baby rate and chorioamnionitis ratio were not different in between the groups.

CONCLUSION

Cervical cerclage after the first delivery is associated with a longer delivery interval and higher birthweight of retained fetus.