Laparoscopic transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage

Abstract

Objective: To report a laparoscopic technique for placement of a transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage.

Design: Detailed case report of one of three patients undergoing described procedure.

Setting: University hospital.

Patient: A 39-year-old infertile patient with a history of cervical adenocarcinoma in situ and two cone biopsies, resulting in an essentially absent exocervix.

Intervention(s): Laparoscopic transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage placement, as an interval procedure, followed by ET of cryopreserved donor oocyte-derived embryos.

Main outcome measure(s): Clinical outcome.

Result(s): Establishment of a pregnancy delivered at 38 1/2 weeks of gestation by elective cesarean section.

Conclusion(s): Patients believed to require a transabdominal cerclage may undergo a laparoscopic interval procedure, obviating the need for a laparotomy before or during pregnancy.