The Cervical Length Variation During Pregnancy at Patients with Previous Cesarean Scar

Abstract

Introduction. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the consequences of repeated cesarean section and we focused on cervical length. We wanted to assess by ultrasound the correlation between caesarean scar and cervical length in patients with previous cesarean section.

Material and methods. We realized a prospective study at Bucur Maternity “St. John”, Hospital, Bucharest between 2016-2020 that included patients with cesarean scar who were monitored during pregnancy in our department. The patients were evaluated by ultrasound for the cervical length in each trimester of pregnancy and after birth.

Results. The study included 69 patients with cesarean scar aged between 18 and 41 years, with a mean age of 29.26 years. In the first trimester of pregnancy the mean value for cervical length was 35.48 mm (standard deviation 4.85, CI: [34.31; 36.64]). For women monitored in the second trimester, the length of the cervix recorded values was 33.11 mm (standard deviation 2.81, CI: [32.34; 33.87]). It is observed that women with uterine contractions in the 30-34 weeks of pregnancy, the length of the cervix measured in the second trimester is slightly shorter than in pregnant women without contractions. Thus, they had an average cervical canal length of 31.33 mm (standard deviation 2.00, CI: [29.80; 32.87]), respectively 34.44 mm (standard deviation 2.76, CI: [33.35; 35.54]).

Conclusions. Ultrasound evaluation of cervical length in the first trimester of pregnancy proved that cervix is shorter in older patients.Cervicometry in the second trimester of pregnancy registered lower values than compared with the first trimester.