Deep Learning-Based Analysis of Efficiency and Surgical Timing for Patients with Cervical Insufficiency Using Transvaginal Ultrasound Images

Objective. This work aims to analyze the surgical timing and clinical efficacy of transvaginal cervical ring ligation based on the ultrasound image focus detection of patients with cervical insufficiency (CIC) under the ultrasound image theme generation model. Methods. 134 CIC patients who came to the hospital for ultrasound imaging diagnosis were collected. Observation group was treated with cervical cerclage (CC) and the pregnancy outcome was followed up. Control group was treated conservatively. Results. For patients in the control group, average gestational age was 21.12 ± 2.18 weeks, average cervical length (CL) was 15.54 ± 0.42 mm, and average uterine opening width was 3.06 ± 0.63 mm. In the observation group, average gestational age was 24.45 ± 4.12 weeks, average CL was 17.32 ± 4.09 mm, and average uterine opening width was 0.21 mm. There were significant differences between the two groups ( P < 0.05 ). There were also significant differences in the degree of uterine orifice dilation between the two groups ( P < 0.05 ). Pregnancy outcomes of the two groups were compared, and χ2 and P < 0.05 indicated significant differences. Conclusion. Convolution neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory model (LSTM) algorithm were used to classify patients' ultrasound images, which could effectively improve diagnosis and treatment efficiency. Surgical success rate, clinical outcomes, neonatal survival rate, and clinical effect of observation group were better than those of control group. Cervical ligation was best performed before 17 weeks of pregnancy in CIC.

Cerclage outcomes in singleton pregnancies at risk for preterm birth following assisted reproductive treatments

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the obstetric and neonatal outcomes of singleton pregnancies at risk for preterm birth (PTB) following assisted reproductive treatments and underwent cervical cerclage placement. Material and methods: A total of 42 women with singleton pregnancies following ART who underwent cerclage between 2009-2021 were included in this retrospective study. Indications of the cerclage procedure, gestational age at cerclage placement and delivery, neonatal birthweight, and requirement for admission to the neonatal unit of newborns were evaluated. Results: Of those cerclage placement performed in women with a history of second-trimester loss (19%), women with suspected cervical insufficiency according to pre-pregnancy evaluation (52.4%), women with the unicornuate uterus (4.8%), women with cervical shortening/or suspicious changes on ultrasonography (11.9%), and women with detection of cervical dilatation/shortening beyond 20 weeks of gestation (11.9%). Of the total group, 7.1% resulted in late miscarriages, while the remaining 92.9% ended with a live birth with mean gestational age at delivery of 37.0±2.5 weeks. Of those live births, 92.3% (36/39) delivered at >34 weeks and %74.4 (29/39) delivered at term. Except one neonatal death due to extremely PTB at 26th weeks, all infants were discharged from the hospital with well condition. Conclusion: ART pregnancies are evaluated as a special group as having a higher PTB risk at baseline. Cerclage may be considered in broader indications for suspected cervical insufficiency in these pregnancies. There is need for further studies on the effectiveness of cerclage in these ART pregnancies with suspected cervical insufficiency based on different criterions used.

Therapeutic Effect of Cervical Cerclage on Cervical Insufficiency during Pregnancy Analyzed by Magnetic Resonance Image under Neural Network Algorithm

Objective. This research was developed to investigate the effect of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis based on neural network algorithm for cervical ligation in the treatment of cervical insufficiency. Methods. 44 patients who were suspected to be pregnant with cervical insufficiency and needed cervical ligation were selected. MR imaging analysis was performed before cervical ligation. MR images were analyzed based on the back propagation neural network (BPNN) algorithm, and patients were randomly divided into experimental group and control group. Preoperative MRI analysis was performed in the experimental group, while simple transvaginal ultrasonography was used to diagnose cervical insufficiency in the control group. Then, postoperative fetal preservation time, vaginal bleeding rate, and infection rate within one week after surgery were compared between the two groups. Results. Based on experience and experimental testing, the relevant parameters were set as follows. The number of particles n = 50, the inertia weight ω = 0.9, and c1 = c2 = 2. The weight range of the output layer of the neural network was [−1, 1], the target error e = 10−5, and the maximum number of iteration steps was 3,000. Compared with the control group, the experimental group’s postoperative bleeding rate and infection probability were substantially reduced, while the normal delivery rate was substantially increased ( P < 0.05 ). Conclusion. MR image analysis based on neural network algorithm played an important role in cervical cerclage surgery. The image map showed the local anatomy clearly, increasing the success rate of the operation and improving the prognosis of the patient.

Cerclage for the Management of Cervical Insufficiency: A Review

Cervical insufficiency (CI) is classically characterized as painless dilation of the uterine cervix in the second trimester that results in delivery of the pregnancy, typically prior to 24 weeks’ gestation. Treatment of the condition has centered on prevention of recurrence in women with a history of CI or early preterm birth. Universal screening tools for CI in women without a history of prior PTB are lacking. Cervical change that is painless may occur with minimal symptoms such as increasing of vaginal discharge/mucous, vaginal pressure or fullness; many women and their providers can dismiss pathologic symptoms that would otherwise be benign in women without CI. The management of CI is categorized as surgical vs. nonsurgical. The cornerstone of surgical management is composed of cervical cerclage, and may be placed by a transvaginal or transabdominal approach depending on the obstetric history. Nonsurgical management includes pessary or activity restriction. For women who have experienced a midtrimester loss due to suspected cervical insufficiency, postnatal or preconception consultation is essential to identify modifiable risk factors, collect medical records of the delivery, and review pathology results if available.

Inflammatory changes in the placenta in ischemic-cervical insufficiency

Introduction. The high frequency of inflammatory changin the placenta in isthmic-cervical insufficiency may be primarily associated with an ascending infection as a result of a violation of the barrier function of the cervix, however, premature remodeling of the cervix may also be secondary due to an already existing process. The study of the features of the spread of the infectious process and thnature of the inflammatory reaction in various structures of the placenta and fetal membranes can contribute to the understanding of pathogenetic mechanisms of preterm birth in isthmic-crvical insufficiency. Aim of the study — to evaluate the frequency and structure of inflammatory changes in the placenta in women with isthmic-cervical insufficiency. Materials and methods. A prospective cohort study was conduct, which included 154 pregnant women taken by the continuous sampling method. All patients were divided into two groups: group 1 consisted of 100 pregnant women with isthmic-cervical insufficiency, group 2 — pregnant women without isthmic-cervical insufficiency. All women after childbirth underwent a pathomorphological examination of the afterbirth. Results and discussion. In women with isthmic-cervical insufficiency, inflamatory changes in the placenta were detected in 71% (71) of cases, which was significantly more frequent compared to group 2 — 38.9% (21). Membranitis was significantly more frequent in isthmic-cervical insufficiency, amounting to 16% (16) versus 3.7% (2) comparison group (OR=4.32, 95% СI=1.03-18.09, p=0.023). Chorioamnionitis was 6 times more common in the afterbirth in women of group 1, accounting for 12% (12), versus 1.9% (1) in group 2 (OR=6.48, 95% CI=0.87-48.51, p=0.031). Involvement of the umbilical cord in the inflammatory process occurred only in pregnant women with isthmic-cervical insufficiency: funiculitis was combined with membranitis in 4% (4) of cases (p=0.137), the combination of funiculitis with choriomnionitis was detcted in 7% (7) of women p=0.047). Conclusion. The frequencof detection of inflammatory changes in the placenta in ICN was 71% (71). In the structure of inflammatory changes of the afterbirth in patients with ICN, the defeat of the fetal membranes prevails, which may indicate a predominatly ascending path of infection in this pathology. Damage membranes prevails, which may indicate a predominatly ascending path of infection in this pathology. Damage to the umbilical cord in ICN can occur both wth total inflammation of all structures of the placenta, and directly through the fetal membranes, without involving the chorion in the process.

Pre-Cerclage Cervical Length—A Reliable Predictor of Long-Term Pregnancy Sustenance After Therapeutic Cervical Cerclage: A Retrospective Study

Background: The indication of therapeutic cerclage is still controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess pregnancy outcomes after cervical cerclage in women with shortened cervical length (CL) during pregnancy and/or with a medical history of cervical insufficiency. Methods: We included pregnant women who underwent cerclage in four perinatal medical centers between January 2009 and December 2010. We compared the outcomes of cerclage in terms of non-term and term births, as well as successful and unsuccessful cerclages. Cervical cerclage was defined as successful if pregnancy was continued for more than 13 weeks post-cerclage. Therapeutic and prophylactic cerclages were performed in pregnant women with pre-cerclage CL < 25 mm and ≥ 25 mm, respectively.Results: We screened 114 pregnant women, of whom 91 were included; 15 and 8 women were excluded for unknown pregnancy outcomes and multiple gestation, respectively. The rate of therapeutic cerclage was significantly higher in the non-term birth (68% vs. 38%, p <0.01; non-term group vs. term birth group), unsuccessful cerclage (79% vs. 43%, p =0.01; unsuccessful cerclage vs. successful cerclage) groups. Inflammatory marker levels (white blood cell count and C-reactive protein) were normal in both group sets, albeit no significantly different between-group differences. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that 87% of patients with pre-cerclage CL ≥ 17 mm sustained their pregnancies for more than 13 weeks post-cerclage. However, 64% of patients with pre-cerclage CL < 17 mm did not sustain their pregnancies for more than 13 weeks post-cerclage.Conclusions: Therapeutic cerclage should be performed in patients with cervical insufficiency having CL ≥ 17 mm, for long-term pregnancy sustenance.