Cotton (Umbilical) Tape as Suture Material for Cervical Cerclage: A Case Series

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction The present case series was an attempt to find out cotton (umbilical) tape usefulness as suture material for cervical encerclage as it is presterilized, easily visible and economical. Methods Objective To determine utility of cotton tape as suture material for cervical cerclage. Study design: A case series. Place KLES Hospital and District Hospital, Belgaum. Period 1997 to 2001. Inclusion criteria Singleton pregnancy, gestational age by USG (14-26 weeks), H/o 2nd trimester abortions, H/o Pre-term labor, elective cerclage. Exclusion criteria Medical diseases, multiple pregnancy, emergency encerclage, fetal anomalies by USG, not willing to provide consent. Outcome Gestational age at delivery, fetal survival, morbidity [white discharge per vagina (PV), cervical dystocia, puerperal pyrexia]. Intervention Cerclage with cotton tape. Technique Modified Mc Donald's: The suture is commenced from the posterior surface of the cervix and knot is put in the posterior surface. Results 89.3% (25 women) had term deliveries, i.e. 37 to 40 weeks, 7.1% (2 women) had spontaneous delivery at 36 weeks and one women (3.6%) had pre-term delivery at 30 weeks with the fetal survival was 96.4%. Conclusion The present case series proves that the simple economical cotton (umbilical) tape is effective as a suture material for cervical encerclage. However a larger randomized trial can confirm these findings.