The Effectiveness of Double Cervical Cerclage and Bed Rest in Managing Complete Cervical Incompetence During the Second Trimester: A Case Presentation

Cervical insufficiency is a known cause of recurrent pregnancy loss and preterm delivery. Although cervical cerclage is the primary management option, some patients require additional reinforcement due to cervical failure. This report describes a 45-year-old woman with a history of 5 second-trimester miscarriages who conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF) using a donor oocyte. A prophylactic Shirodkar cerclage was placed at 12 weeks of gestation. Despite this, an ultrasound at 23 weeks showed funneling and almost complete loss of cervical length. A second emergency Shirodkar cerclage was inserted. The patient was hospitalized, maintained in the Trendelenburg position, and treated with tocolytics, antibiotics, progesterone, corticosteroids, and thromboprophylaxis while on strict bed rest. Cervical stability and fetal well-being were closely monitored until term. At 37 weeks and four days, a cesarean section was performed due to breech presentation after removal of both sutures, resulting in the delivery of a healthy female infant. This case demonstrates that a second cervical cerclage can successfully maintain pregnancy up to term in cases of complete cervical insufficiency when the initial suture fails. The favorable outcome suggests that, in carefully selected patients, a double cerclage combined with comprehensive supportive management may help achieve term delivery. Although bed rest was implemented, its specific contribution remains uncertain and should be viewed as an adjunctive rather than a definitive therapeutic measure.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Cureus
Published
2026-01-12
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.101372
Primary Topic
Preterm Birth and Chorioamnionitis
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

The Effectiveness of Double Cervical Cerclage and Bed Rest in Managing Complete Cervical Incompetence During the Second Trimester: A Case Presentation

Alexandros Trompoukis, Dimitrios Christakopoulos, Andreas Dimopoulos, Eleni Tsiampa
Cureus
Preterm Birth and Chorioamnionitis
article

The Effectiveness of Double Cervical Cerclage and Bed Rest in Managing Complete Cervical Incompetence During the Second Trimester: A Case Presentation

Alexandros Trompoukis, Dimitrios Christakopoulos, Andreas Dimopoulos, Eleni Tsiampa
article en

Abstract

Cervical insufficiency is a known cause of recurrent pregnancy loss and preterm delivery. Although cervical cerclage is the primary management option, some patients require additional reinforcement due to cervical failure. This report describes a 45-year-old woman with a history of 5 second-trimester miscarriages who conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF) using a donor oocyte. A prophylactic Shirodkar cerclage was placed at 12 weeks of gestation. Despite this, an ultrasound at 23 weeks showed funneling and almost complete loss of cervical length. A second emergency Shirodkar cerclage was inserted. The patient was hospitalized, maintained in the Trendelenburg position, and treated with tocolytics, antibiotics, progesterone, corticosteroids, and thromboprophylaxis while on strict bed rest. Cervical stability and fetal well-being were closely monitored until term. At 37 weeks and four days, a cesarean section was performed due to breech presentation after removal of both sutures, resulting in the delivery of a healthy female infant. This case demonstrates that a second cervical cerclage can successfully maintain pregnancy up to term in cases of complete cervical insufficiency when the initial suture fails. The favorable outcome suggests that, in carefully selected patients, a double cerclage combined with comprehensive supportive management may help achieve term delivery. Although bed rest was implemented, its specific contribution remains uncertain and should be viewed as an adjunctive rather than a definitive therapeutic measure.

CureusVol. 18(1)
General-Maternity District Hospital Helena Venizelou (GR)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 91%
Preterm Birth and Chorioamnionitis
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.