Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of cervical cerclage on labor course and obstetric outcome.
Methods: In a retrospective case-control study, we compared labor course, total labor duration, and obstetric complications in 127 women who received cervical cerclage with 254 controls.
Results: There was no significant difference in the duration of the first stage of labor (477 ± 576 vs. 373 ± 437 min, p = 0.075) or the second stage of labor (18 ± 17 vs. 20 ± 19 min, p = 0.287) between the 2 groups. In the multivariate analysis, women in the cerclage group were found to be significantly more likely to have a prolonged latent phase (odds ratio [OR], 2.802; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.103-7.120; p = 0.030), cervical laceration (OR, 15.984; 95% CI, 3.169-80.624; p = 0.001), and treatment with tocolytics (OR, 2.580; 95% CI, 1.217-5.468; p = 0.013) than the control group. No significant difference was noted in cesarean delivery rate.
Conclusions: Cervical cerclage is more likely to be associated with a prolonged latent phase and minor obstetric complications, but not with a difference in the total duration of labor or increased cesarean delivery rate.