[Can premature birth rate be reduced by preventive cerclage? A retrospective statistical analysis on the effect and value of cerclage using the Bavarian Perinatal Survey 1978-1980]

Abstract

There is no simple correlation between cerclage rates and premature birth-rates. This concludes that premature birth-rates cannot be reduced by extending the cerclage. In all comparable categories the premature birth-rate was higher in groups which used the cerclage than those ones which did not use the cerclage even though a) the risk of social economical premature birth-rates was reduced and b) care was intensified for pregnancy cases. Cerclage groups have a higher percentage of case history risks than the non-cerclage groups. There is a direct relationship between the social status and the premature births. The case history of premature birth risks cannot be reduced using the cerclage especially with women who have previously had 2 abortions or premature births. When placenta previa occurs the cerclage does not reduce premature births. In the case of cervix insufficiency and early labor the cerclage reduces the premature birth-rate. Extended prophylactic cerclage cannot be used to diminish premature births.