Background: Cervical insufficiency (CI) is a painless cervix dilation in the second or early third trimester due to a structural or functional defect. However, CI is often diagnosed retrospectively. A cervix with CI cannot retain the fetus. This condition significantly increases the morbidity associated with extreme prematurity. Women diagnosed with cervical incompetence and dilatation in the mid-second trimester are offered interventions to prolong the duration of pregnancy, with the mainstay of therapy being emergency cerclage. A prophylactic cerclage may be offered to women with a history of extremely preterm birth due to isthmic cervical incompetence. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the perinatal outcomes of elective and emergency cerclages. Materials and Methods: A 10-year retrospective analysis, from 1 January 2015 to 29 February 2024 of pregnancies with indications for cervical cerclage, was conducted. Obstetric and neonatal outcomes were assessed. Results: Prophylactic cervical cerclage was performed in 43 (57%) and emergency cerclage in 32 (43%) of all analyzed cases. The mean prolongation of gestation (measured as the period between cerclage insertion and delivery) was higher in the elective cerclage group compared with the emergency cerclage group (18.6 ± 5.4 vs. 12.2 ± 6.4 weeks; p < 0.0001). The mean gestational week at cerclage removal was also higher in the elective group (36.1 ± 2.2 vs. 31.4 ± 5.6 weeks; p < 0.001). Deliveries in the extreme prematurity period (before 28 completed weeks of gestation) were five times more often in the rescue cerclage group. A significantly higher mean birthweight was reported in the elective cerclage group, at 2920.4 ± 946.8 g vs. 2078.8 ± 1147.8 g (p = 0.0004). Emergency cerclage insertion was associated with a higher need for NICU hospitalization (28% vs. 5%, p = 0.003), continuous positive airway pressure (38% vs. 2%, p < 0.0001), and intubation (22% vs. 0%, p = 0.003). Conclusions: While elective cerclage is associated with more favorable perinatal and neonatal outcomes, this likely reflects earlier intervention in lower-risk pregnancies rather than inherent superiority of the approach. Emergency cerclage, performed under urgent and often suboptimal conditions, remains a critical and effective intervention capable of prolonging gestation and improving neonatal survival in high-risk cases.
Keywords: cervical cerclage; cervical insufficiency; elective cerclage; emergency cerclage; preterm birth.